. Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern. Frangaise. He loved change and out-of-the-way experiences, and two studies resulted from this trip: *? LaGrece Contemporaine,* a book of charming philosophic description;and the delightful story *? Le Roi des Montagnes (The King of theMountains). This tale of the long-limbed German student, envelopedin the smoke from his porcelain pipe as he recounts a series ofimpossible adventures,—those of himself and two Englishwomen,captured for ransom by Hadgi Stavros, brigand king in the Grecianmountains, —is especially characteristic of Abou
. Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern. Frangaise. He loved change and out-of-the-way experiences, and two studies resulted from this trip: *? LaGrece Contemporaine,* a book of charming philosophic description;and the delightful story *? Le Roi des Montagnes (The King of theMountains). This tale of the long-limbed German student, envelopedin the smoke from his porcelain pipe as he recounts a series ofimpossible adventures,—those of himself and two Englishwomen,captured for ransom by Hadgi Stavros, brigand king in the Grecianmountains, —is especially characteristic of About in the hutnorousatmosphere of every situation. About wrote stories so easily and well that his early desertion offiction is surprising. His mocking spirit has often suggested compar-ison with Voltaire, whom he studied and admired. He too is a skep-tic and an idol-breaker; but his is a kindlier irony, a less incisivephilosophy. Perhaps, however, this influence led to lack of faith inhis own work, to his loss of an ideal, which Zola thinks the real. Edmond About EDMOND ABOUT ^c secret of his sudden change from novelist to journalist. Voltairetaught him to scoff and disbelieve, to demand ** a quoi bon ? and thattook the heart out of him. He was rather fond of exposing abuses,a habit that appears in those witty letters to the Gaulois which in1878 obliged him to suspend that journal. His was a positive mind,interested in political affairs, and with something always ready tosay upon them. In 1872 he founded a radical newspaper, Le XlXmeSiecle (The Nineteenth Century), in association with another aggress-ive spirit, that of Francisque Sarcey. For many years he proved hisability as editor, business man, and keen polemist. He tried drama, too, inevitable ambition of young French authors;but after the failure of ^ Guillery ^ at the Theatre Frangaise and^Gaetena* at the Odeon, renounced the theatre. Indeed, his poweris in odd conceptions, in the covert laugh and humorous suggestiono
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