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Metternich the Statesman
and Arthur Herman
By Dolly Dalrymple
O NE could say nothing more flatter
ing about any study of a great his
torical character than that it is ac
curate, colorful and entertaining and this
is the comment freely made both at home
and abroad concerning Arthur Herman’s
book, “Metternich” (The Century Com
pany, New York.)
Arthur Herman's book was first pub
lished in London April 5, 1932, by George
Allen & Unwin, Ltd., when columns
w r ere given to reviews of the work in the
leading Hritish newspapers and magazines,
notably The London Times, whose
“front page” story in the literary supple
ment covered several columns.
Before going into the merits of Mr.
Herman’s book, it isn’t inapropos to re
cite a bit of history connected with him
and his brilliant career, from the time he
went to Phillips High School, thence to
Harvard where he made an outstanding
record as a student, receiving his A. B.
degree and his M. A. degree; later at
Yale where he took his LL. B. degree
and at the University of Jena ((lermany)
where he received his Ph. D.
While in Harvard and Yale Mr. Her
man devoted a great deal of his time to
the study of history, for which he always
had a real passion.
His friends are of the opinion that Mr.
Herman frankly had no love for the law
and only studied it to please his parents,
in fact.
It is said that Arthur Herman was
really quite unhappy in the practice of
the law and hoped all the time he would
be offered a position as a teacher so that
he might find time to write.
Eventually he obtained an executive po
sition with the University of Iowa, teach
ing history, but still he was dissatisfied.
He had been doing some writing but noth
ing that pleased him; he felt that in or
der to do effective writing he ought to
give all of his time, thought and energy
to it.
He finally decided not to struggle
against his fondest wish and desire any
longer so he gave up everything and be
gan to write constantly.
At this point he went abroad, his ob
jective being Vienna, which he refers to as his
“Lieblingstadt,” where he wrote to his heart’s
content—18 hours a day being devoted to writing
for a year and a half.
Of course, it was not only necessary for him
to master the German language, but to learn the
most difficult technical German.
It is said that Arthur Herman read thousands
of documents on the life of Prince Metternich,
whose spectacular and meteoric career is one of the
most dazzling in European history. There has
probably been no gap in English historical litera
ture so deplorable as the absence of a book giving
a general view of Metternich, his life and his work,
up to the time that Mr. Herman wrote his splen
did story.
Especially significant is the opinion of the dis
tinguished author, Octavus Roy Cohen, regarding
Mr. Herman and his biography of Metternich,
not only because of Mr. Cohen’s importance in
The Southern Israelite is fortunate in being able |
feature, through the courtesy of The Birmingham ArJ
—Age-Herald, this feature on Arthur Herman and *J
book, “MetternichMr. Herman’s story of Pr'itu
Metternich, the great Austrian statesman whose hi
was so ilosely associated with Napoleon that he earned
be called “Napoleon’s Nemesis” is of especial in/iryl
to the South, because it was in Birmingham, Ala., thi
the author—Arthur Herman—was born and reared.
read. It shows deep thought and tho-
ough research and is a splendid contribJ
tion to literature.”
Having finished his work, Mr. HerniJ
brought the manuscript of “Metterniclij
to America, but on account of economy
conditions, publishers looked askance if
such a scholarly work. They all agree!
it was magnificently done, but postpon*
ment of its publication was thought \\
est. So, returning to Vienna, Mr. Hr
man bided his time, beginning anothr
book, the life of Tchaikovsky.
With this story under headway, M
Herman offered his “Metternich” to Enc
lish publishers and to his surprise the bou
was accepted immediately. The publish
ers were so impressed with it they though
it would be the big book of the year, whidl
it turned out to be most emphatically.
Before this climacteric was reachec
Arthur Herman, like many other graj
authors, went through years of hardship
struggles and self-sacrifice.
On the cover of the English edition of
Herman’s “Metternich” we find his air
hitions listed as follows:
“To play the violin like Mischa I.
man; to know as much about the mastr
fiddle makers as Messrs. Hill, of Londor
to write like Sir Thomas Moore; to ha\
the passion of Nietszche; the informatio
of Lord Acton; the eloquence of Burkf
the charm of Fox; the power of Frede:
ick the Great; the heart of Epictetus]
and to be myself.”
How close Mr. Herman has come t
fulfilling his ambition in regard to writin
may be judged by “Metternich.”
Mr. Herman’s newly published bool
“Metternich” is a most fascinating stor
It is brilliant and finished; it is never dul
but always interesting, and it tells th'
story of a character in history which fn*
know anything about, and who should N
made a familiar subject to all who desire
a thorough knowledge of history.
The Metternich of Arthur Herman]
brain has wide intellectual interests fo
literature, music, the arts and scienct
claimed the Piince’s affection and rf
ceived his support. He was of fascinatin.
exterior and magical charm of manner
dominating every gathering by his limpid flow c-
words and profundity of thought, his shimmering
biting wit and his poised elegance and the trix
grace and kindliness of his heart. A beautifi
background for the author to work on and or
which he has wrought most brilliantly.
Mr. Herman’s book on Metternich represent
the first historical and psychological biography i:
English to evaluate Prince Metternich as a mar
and as a statesman on the basis of the latest Ei
ropean scholarly research.
All previous biographies have been more or lr>
prejudiced, fragmentary, and more or less inac
curate. Mr. Herman has pictured this amazin.
character as he looked to his contemporaries.
1 he authentic facts upon which Arthur Het
man has elaborated so interestingly in his book ar
these: Prince Clement Metternich was born i :
Coblentz, on the Rhine,' May, 1773, and died i'
\ ienna, June, 1859. He (Please turn to page 1"
Courtesy Birmintham Sews-Ate Herald.
ARTHUR HERMAN
. . . “for without dreams one perishes."
the literary world, but because of his friendship
with Mr. Herman during his school days in Bir
mingham.
Mr. Herman was a loyal member of “The
Loafers,” of which Mr. Cohen is one of the lead
ing lights and there these two clever men frequent
ly met. So it was quite natural that Mr. Cohen
should be interested in the career of his contem
porary.
“Arthur Herman is one of the finest chaps in
the world,” said Mr. Cohen. “He is a great stu
dent and one of the most interesting people I
know.
“He married a charming young woman from
Southeast Georgia, Bessie Erlich, and they have
made their home in Vienna the last several years.
Mrs. Herman is a graduate of Barnard College
and they have one young son.
“I regard Arthur Herman’s “Metternich” as
one of the finest pieces of biography I have ever
[8]
* THE SOUTHERN ISRAELI