WHATEVER the merits or the faults of this
book, it has the advantage of being the first
one in the English language devoted to the life
and works of Sainte-Beuve. Criticism is not
so highly honoured in English-speaking coun-
tries as in France, and it has perhaps been
taken for granted that to criticise a critic
would be carrying the thing too far. For of
course to write a man's life is to criticise him.
Yet Sainte-Beuve was a pervading force in the
intellectual history of his time. His influence
was European. It has become world-wide.
And if, as is not improbable, the nineteenth
century should appear more and more a cen-
tury of critical thought, a period of preparation
for a new synthesis, the attention of mankind
will be drawn still further to the figure of
Sainte-Beuve. The last six or seven years
have seen a revival of interest in his life, giving
birth to a bewildering profusion of articles
about him in the French reviews. Portions of
his correspondence are constantly appearing,
and the indefatigable M. Léon Séché threatens
to surprise us from day to day with fresh
revelations.

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