Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/225

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JSfew Hampshire Authors.

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��made the acquaintance of many men of note and distinction. Upon iiis return to America he began the prac- tice of his profession at Waterford, having attended law lectures during his stay in Paris. Subsequently he settled in New York.

He now became interested in liter- ature ; was one of the editors of the "Knickerbocker Gallery;" started "Putnam's Monthly;" was a con- tributor to the "International Re- view," to the "Atlantic," and to the "Continental." To these Ije furnished reviews, essays, poetry, letters of travel, etc.

He has published nine volumes, some of which have been translated into the Dutch, German, and French languages, — a distinction (I believe) accorded to no other sou of the Granite State. His first, and questionless his best, novel appeared in 1850 under the title of " St. Leger," the scene being laid in Scotland. It abounds in beau- tiful descriptions of Scottish scenery. It was brought out concurrently at London and Leipzig, and ran through twenty-three editions in this country. It received a favorable criticism from Taylor Lewis and others, and an ad- verse one from the " N. Y. Observer." "Cuba and Cubans" came out in 1852, followed the next year Ijy " Ro- mance of a Student's Life Abroad," which (like St. Leger) was published in Holland, Germany, France, and England, receiving a kind review from the Revue des Deux Moncles, and the "Loudon Atheneum." Next, "LTn- dercurrents " was produced. This, too, was printed in Leipzig and Am- sterdam, having been reviewed by the "Gids" of the latter place; and at home by Taylor Lewis and Geo. Rip-

��ley, all of whom spoke in the most complimentary terms. "Undercur- rents" is called Kimball's second best woik by a large majority of his ad- mirers. "The Prince of Kashna," which was laid in the West Indies ; "Was He Successful?" "Henry Powers;" and "To-day," which ap- peared in 1870, — were issued in the order named. The second was trans- lated into Dutch, and the latter appearing in London, Leipzig, and Amsterdam.

His tliought is often metaphysical and slightly religious ; his style is characterized by limpidity and energy rather than beauty, while his method is eminently analytic. Personally he

is said to be a genial gentleman of 

the old school. He still resides in New York, spending the summer months in his native town, Lebanon, where he retains a residence. He is on the suunv side of seventy.

T. B. ALDRICH.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich, who is equally known as a romancist and poet, is perhaps the greatest literary genius that this state has yet pro- duced. Whether vigor of thought, beauty of imagery, or melody of flow is to be considered, this state- ment holds unchanged. He also is a very industrious author, having pub- lished fourteen volumes, besides doing an immense amount of editorial and other literary work. His "Face Against the Pane" has enjoyed a reputation hardly second to Wood- worth's " Old Oaken Bucket," though different in style and thought. Almost every school-child in the land has committed it to memory and recited it on "exhibition dav." It is a

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