Page:The four horsemen of the Apocalypse - (Los cuatro jinetes de Apocalipsis) (IA cu31924014386738).djvu/15

 As a leader of the people and the disseminator of progressive ideas, Blasco Ibañez has translated many volumes dealing with sociological and political topics, issuing them at prices within the reach of the masses. He has directed one of Spain's largest publishing houses, stimulating not only a love for what is best in Spanish, but also a desire for the best works of an international nature. His history of the war, which he studied at first hand, as readers of are well aware, is still in process of writing, and has reached an enormous sale.

Such are the elements that have entered into the making of the great writer's novels. Possessing a vivid sense of backgrounds, a broad knowledge of humanity, a deep sympathy with the lowly, a fearless love of justice, he instils his works with the power of universal passion.

Of these, not a few are already at hand for the English reader, and more are in process of translation. No modern spirit, whether he be in search of that pleasure which comes from all sincere works of the imagination, or of that deeper acquaintance with the currents of modern thought which is today imperative because of the vast complexity of contemporary life, can afford not to know an author who so merges pleasure with profit.

There is little need to speak here of the work that established the fame of Blasco Ibañez in the United States; is the one book every American has read, of all that were produced by the war; it is the one novel which, in the vastness of its background, the vigor of its spirit, the torch of its idealism, matches the great cause in which it was written. And now, in the companion volume (Our Sea), it has found a worthy spiritual fellow. Here again we find a vast background, a flaming purpose, and withal a tale of love and adventure that carries us breath-