The Project Gutenberg eBook of Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3), by Thomas Babington Macaulay
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3)
Release Date: February 10, 2009 [eBook #28046]
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRITICAL AND HISTORICAL ESSAYS, VOLUME III (OF 3)
***E-text prepared by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes, Leonard Johnson, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
Note: Project Gutenberg also has Volumes I and II of this work in text file format only. See Volume I: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2332 Volume II: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2333
[Illustration: The Riverside Press logo.]
Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company The Riverside Press Cambridge
Copyright, 1899, by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. All Rights Reserved
LEIGH HUNT'S COMIC DRAMATISTS OF THE RESTORATION 47
It is hardly necessary for us to say that this is an excellent book excellently translated. The original work of Professor Ranke is known and esteemed wherever German literature is studied, and has been found interesting even in a most inaccurate and dishonest French version. It is, indeed, the work of a mind fitted both for minute researches and for large speculations. It is written also in an admirable spirit, equally remote from levity and bigotry, serious and earnest, yet tolerant and impartial. It is, therefore, with the greatest pleasure that we now see this book take its place among the English classics. Of the translation we need only say that it is such as might be expected from the skill, the taste, and the scrupulous integrity of the accomplished lady who, as an interpreter between the mind of Germany and the mind of Britain, has already deserved so well of both countries.
The subject of this book has always appeared to us singularly interesting. How it was that Protestantism did so much, yet did no more, how it was that the Church of Rome, having lost a large part of Europe, not only ceased to lose, but actually regained nearly half of what she had lost, is certainly a most curious and important question; and on this question Professor Ranke has thrown far more light than any other person who has written on it.