Fabrice’s experiences on the battle-field of Waterloo, where as a raw youth he first “smelled powder,” are recounted with a good deal of realistic detail.  They suggest a comparison with a book of more recent date devoted to a similar subject, Stephen Crane’s ’Red Badge of Courage,’ though of course the latter does not approach Stendhal in artistic self-restraint and mastery over form.

The remaining novel, ‘Lucien Leuwen,’ was left in an unfinished state, and thus published after the author’s death, under the title of ’Le Chasseur Vert.’  Recently they have been republished, under the name of ‘Lucien Leuwen,’ with additional material which the editor, M. Jean de Mitty, claims to have deciphered from almost illegible manuscripts found in the library at Grenoble.  But even without these additions there is enough to show that ‘Lucien Leuwen’ would have been one of his best efforts, second only, perhaps, to the ‘Rouge et Noir.’  The hero, Lucien, is the son of a rich financier, who “was never out of temper and never took a serious tone with his son,” but cheerfully paid his debts, saying “A son is a creditor provided by nature.”  Out of mere ennui from lack of serious employment, Lucien enters as sub-lieutenant a regiment of Lancers in garrison at Nancy.  He has no illusions about military life in times of peace:—­“I shall wage war only upon cigars; I shall become the pillager of a military cafe in the gloomy garrison of an ill-paved little town....  What glory!  My soul will be well caught when I present myself to Napoleon in the next world.  ‘No doubt,’ he will say, ’you were dying of hunger when you took up this life?’ ‘No, General,’ I shall reply, ‘I thought I was imitating you.’” His early experiences at Nancy, his subsequent meeting with and love for Mme. de Chasteller, are admirable equally for their moderation and their fidelity.

Since Stendhalism has become a cult, so much has been written on the subject that a complete bibliography of Stendhaliana would occupy several pages.  Aside from the well-known criticisms of Balzac, Taine, and Sainte-Beuve, the most important contributions to the subject are the article by Zola in ‘Romanciers Naturalistes,’ that by Bourget in ‘Essais de Psychologie Contemporaine,’ and the biography by Edouard Rod in the ‘Grands Ecrivains Francais’ (Great French Writers) Series.  Thanks to the zeal of M. Casimir Stryienski, a considerable amount of autobiographical material has lately been brought to light:  ’Journal de Stendhal’ ‘Vie de Henri Broulard,’ and ‘Souvenirs d’Egotisme,’ which, together with his ‘Correspondence,’ are indispensable for a true knowledge of the man.

[Illustration:  Signature:  FREDERIC TABER COOPER]

PRINCESS SANSEVERINA’S INTERVIEW

From ‘La Chartreuse de Parme’