The Life of William Cowper. By Thomas Wright. 2nd Edit. Illustrated. London: Farncombe & Sons, 30 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus. Price, 12s. 6d.
This may well be reckoned the standard biography of Cowper. The fullness of information presented, the skill with which the incidents of this remarkable man’s life are set before the reader, and the fine sympathy of the author all make it to be one of the finest biographies we have ever read. Cowper’s place as the poet of the home is assured in English literature. He sang of homely joys, and there is a grave sweet melody in his song. He could touch the very depths of pathos, as witness the lines written on receiving his mother’s portrait with their haunting and pathetic
beauty which have moved many a reader to tears. But it is not so much to Cowper’s place in English literature that we would refer here as to his friendship with John Newton and the influence that great and good man had over the genius of Olney. We are pleased to note that Mr. Wright has dealt in a saner and kindlier manner with Newton’s influence on Cowper than so many writers to whom Bunyan’s words might be applied—”the Philistines do not understand me.” There is something inexpressibly sad in the accounts given of the quenching of the light of genius and the brighter light of a heavenly hope in the impenetrable gloom that fell periodically upon him. The connection of the sublime lines beginning—
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
with such a period is almost universally known. His deep concern over an unconverted brother who was in the ministry is very touching, and his earnest pleading to heaven had an answer ere that brother passed into the presence of the Judge of all the earth. The gloom that fell on his mind during the latter years of his life was black as the darkness of Egypt. Once or twice for a few days the light of hope shone in where darkness reigned so long, and it was with joyful words he spoke of God’s free and sovereign grace to him, the vilest of the vile. The publishers have done their part of the work well. The whole get up of the book and the illustrations are excellent.
The Story of Some Famous Bonfires.—By W. Churchyard. London: Protestant Truth Society, 3 St. Paul’s Churchyard, London, E.C.4. Illustrated. Price 3s. 6d. net.
Mr. Martin has the happy gift of presenting the contentions of the Reformers in such a way as to awaken interest in the most listless of his young readers. The story he has to tell is one of the finest in the annals of English history—the faithful witness unto death of men and women for the truths of the Gospel. It is well that the story of such contentions, so full of the noblest heroism, should be kept before the attention of the young folks. Mr. Stanley deserves the sincerest thanks of all who wish to have such books to present to the young, and the attractive way in which the story is told and the pleasing get up of the book ensure it a wide circulation.