Die deutsche komische und humoristische Dichtung seit Beginn des 16.  Jahrhunderts bis auf unsere Zeit.  Von IGNAZ HUB.  Nuernberg:  Ebner. 1857.

Two volumes of this interesting work are coming out at the same time,—­one containing the second of the five parts into which the prose anthology is divided, with comical and humorous pieces from the sixteenth century, (for instance, extracts from “Fortunatus,” the “Historia” of Dr. J. Faust, “Die Schildbuerger,” Desid, Erasmus’s “Gespraeche,” etc.,)—­the other containing a collection of poetry of the same kind, belonging to the present century, and forming part of the third volume, with pieces by Uhland, Eichendorff, Rueckert, Sapphir, Wm. Mueller, Immermann, Palten, Hoffmann, Kopisch, Heine, Lenau, Moericke, Gruen, Wackernagel, and many others.  The anthology is accompanied with biographical and historical notes, and explanations of provincialisms and such words as to the American reader of German would be likely to be otherwise unintelligible; so that he may thus, without too much trouble, satisfactorily enjoy this treasury of entertainment.  The Germans may well be proud of such literary riches, in which England alone surpasses them.

Thueringer Naturen, Charakter-und Sittenbilder in Erzaehlungen.  Von OTTO LUDWIG.  Erster Band. Die Heiterethei und ihr Widerspiel.  Frankfurt. 1857.

This is one of the numerous imitations of the celebrated “Dorfgeschichten,” by Berthold Auerbach.  The latter introduced, in a time of literary poverty, a wide range of new subjects for epical treatment,—­the life of German peasants, with their simple, healthy, vigorous natures undepraved by a spurious civilization.  In painting these sinewy figures, full of a character of their own, he was very felicitous, had an enormous success, and drew a host of less gifted followers after him.  Herr Ludwig is one of these.  We shall not despair of his becoming, at some future time, a second Auerbach; but he is not one yet.  There is, in this work, too much spreading out and extenuation of a material which, in itself not very rich and varied, requires great skill to mould into an epic form.  But the author has a remarkable power of drawing true, lifelike characters, and developing them psychologically.  It is refreshing to see that the German literary taste is becoming gradually more realistic, pure, and natural, turning its back on the romantic school of the French.

May Carols. By AUBREY DE VERE.  London. 1857.

The name of Aubrey de Vere has for some years past been familiar to the lovers of poetry, as that of a scholarly and genial poet.  His successive volumes have shown a steady growth in poetic power and elevation of spirit.  While gaining a firmer mastery over the instruments of poetry he has struck from them a deeper, fuller, and more significant tone.  In this his last volume, which has lately appeared, his verse is brought completely into the service of