TENNYSON'S NEW BOOK.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 4

TENNYSON 'S NEW BOOK.

Tennyson's now book of poems, "Locksley Hall, Sixty Years ,-iffor," ha= appeared. It contains tho throe-act play "Tho Promise of May," which was produced in London soino years ago. The greatost interest in tho volume centres in "Locksley Hall,' 1 in which the pool reviews the life of mankind during the la^t aixty yeara, and comes to the conclusion that ita boasted progreea is of doubtful credit to tiie world in general and to Fugland in particular. A cynical vein of denunciation of democratic opinion and aspirations run throughout the poem, in rnaiked contrast with the spirit of tho " Locksloy JIuU" of tho poet's youth. Lord Tennyson's new volume meets with but a cold roception from the critics. On© Tory organ, grateful, perhaps, for tho poet's Toryism, plucks up courage to say that its favourable expectations are signally fulfilled in "Tho New Lockaley Hall." "Tho hatred and contempt which Lord Tennyson feota for mouthing politicians and the cant of democracy," says the "Standard," "are given the fullest ex» presaion." But the raptuie of admira tion which pervades this notice finds no echo elsewhere Most people feel as they struggle through these latest stanzas that Lord Tennyson 8 once in« iinitable doiicacy and precision <$t diction havo given place to conceited over-elabora-tion and to false ornament, and his best friends wish him to publish no more.