The Edinburgh Review (Volume 19) - Tapa blanda

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1811. Excerpt: ... THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, FEBRUARY, 1812. ill 'l ' I J¥°: XXXVIII. Art. I. A Series of Plays: In which it is attempted to deline* ate the stronger Passions of the Mind. By Joanna BairnC. Vol.111. 8vo. pp.314. London, 1812: Tt is now, we think, something more thin nine years since w6 ■*· first ventured to express our opinion of Miss Baillie's earlier productions; and to raise our warning voice against those narrow and peculiar views of dramatic excellence, by which, it appeared to us, that she had imprudently increased the difficulties of a very difficult undertaking. Notwithstanding this admonition, Miss Baillie has gone on (as we expected) in her own way; and has become (as we expected) both less popular, :ind less deserving of popularity, in every successive publication. The volume before us, we are afraid, is decidedly inferior to any of her former volumes ; (for we have too much forbearance, or nationality, to say any thing of her single play); at the same time that it contains indications of talent that ought not to be overlooked, and specimens of excellence, which make it a duty to examine into the causes of its general failure. We have formerly said almost enough, we believe, of her extraordinary determination to write a tragedy and a comedv upon each of the stronger passions of the mind;--a scheme so singularly perverse and fantastic, that we rather wonder at its having escaped the patronage of the learned professors in the academy of Lagoda j and in favour of which it would not be easy to say any thing--but that, by good luck, it is utterly impracticable. For, even passing over the captivating originality of comedies on Hatred and Revenge, and tragedies on Hope and Joy, it seems plain enough, that the interest of a play can no more be maintained by the del...