Text: Anonymous, “[Review of Wiley & Putnam's Library],” Weekly Mirror (New York, NY), vol. II, no. 3, April 26, 1845, p. 38, cols. 2-3

[page 38, column 2, continued:]

WILEY & PUTNAM'S LIBRARY.

A good cover, clean cut type, and a cheerful page, is a full answer to the dainty-pocket-handkerchief, orderly teeth and blameless gloves of a gentleman on his first presentation in company. The Library of Choice Reading carries its own recommendation in its face: and elbows aside your cumbrous volumes, and your scurvy pamphlets with a modest self-possession which puts you at ease at once as to his right to your society and a few of your best hours the books heretofore made choice by publication in this form have the advantage of a certain roundness and completeness of execution: depending for interest on no previous or later production of its author: but standing each by itself, and challenging attention, instantly and always, for itself alone. This library has also the further merit of a plan and purpose, in its series: the works being so chosen as to blend one with another into an harmonious sequence: when the mind is relieved by a due proportion of travel, fiction, narrative, diary, essay, criticism and real life. There has been no bad book in it, yet: nor do the books announced defeat the promise of those already published. Some of them will be clearly of service beyond the immediate sale and publisher's success: in helping the American public, in a tasteful and attractive form, to form judgements and acquire habits of opinion of a higher range than such as have prevailed. One of these is the “Imagination and Fancy” of Leigh Hunt which, with an occasional lapse by reason of the strong personal relations and sympathies of the author, applies true and wholesome standards to the judgement of poetry: and which American compilers and critics would do well to bear in mind in their efforts to determine the absolute poetical capital of the country.

Following the reprints already issued and issuing, we are to have an American series, in the same spirit of selection: and, which, if faithfully conducted may do not a little to serve the interests of authorship here at home, and to satisfy as that we are in possession of writers whom it is well worth our while to encourage. The writers of this country have [column 3:] been successful rather in the lesser ventures of authorship than in their attempts at fitting out fleets and armadas. There can be no question as to the build of our essays, tales, and minor poetry, although we may have been compelled pretty often to see our promising epics and stupendously heavy-timbered tragedies go to the bottom. We hope the American series will be able to hold its own in freshness, vivacity and the graces of execution. New books and best of their authors, are needed. Books of a characteristic kind: books which their authors were sent into the world expressly to indite: and books which will remain, in their class and scope, unsuperseded by any successors. We have heard several works referred to as of this section of the Library, which answer to these conditions. A collection of tale by Mr. POE, Travels by HEADLEY, a volume by HAWTHORNE, something in his best weld-western vein by HOFFMAN, choice Indian legends of his daintiest pick by SCHOOLCRAFT, something critical and essaying by Mr. W. A. Jones, a book from SIMMS “full of the warm South,” a spice of the satirical from C. F. BRIGGS, and a Portland wafture from JOHN NEAL. There's no end to the good things to be hoped for from this same Choice Library of Wiley and Putnam's. Make a beau-knot of the two series, Mr. Public, and wear it in your breast for an April token!