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Textbook Ebook Recrystallization and Related Annealing Phenomena Third Edition John Humphreys All Chapter PDF
Textbook Ebook Recrystallization and Related Annealing Phenomena Third Edition John Humphreys All Chapter PDF
John Humphreys
Gregory S. Rohrer
Anthony Rollett
Elsevier
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ISBN: 978-0-08-098235-9
Recrystallization and the related annealing phenomena which occur during the
thermomechanical processing of materials have long been recognized as being both of
technological importance and scientific interest. These phenomena are known to occur
in all types of crystalline materials; they occur during the natural geological
deformation of rocks and minerals, and during the processing of technical ceramics.
However, the phenomena have been most widely studied in metals, and as this is the
only class of material for which a coherent body of work is available, this book
inevitably concentrates on metallic materials. Although there is a vast body of literature
going back 150 years, and a large collection of reviews which are detailed in Chapter 1,
there have only been two monographs published in recent times on the subject of
recrystallization, the latest nearly 20 years ago. Since that time, considerable advances
have been made, both in our understanding of the subject and in the techniques
available to the researcher.
Metallurgical research in this field is mainly driven by the requirements of industry,
and currently, a major need is for quantitative, physically based models which can be
applied to metal-forming processes so as to control, improve and optimize the
microstructure and texture of the finished products. Such models require a more
detailed understanding of both the deformation and annealing processes than we have
at present. The development of the underlying science to a level sufficient for the
construction of the required models from first principles provides a goal for perhaps
the next 10e20 years.
The book was written to provide a treatment of the subject for researchers or students who
need a more detailed coverage than is found in textbooks on physical metallurgy, and a
more coherent treatment than will be found in the many conference proceedings. We have
chosen to emphasize the scientific principles and physical insight underlying annealing
rather than produce a comprehensive bibliography or handbook.
Unfortunately the generic term annealing is used widely to describe two metallurgical
processes. Both have a common result in that a hardened material is made softer, but the
mechanisms involved are quite different. In one case, associated with the heat treatment
xv
Preface to the First Edition
xvi
Preface to the First Edition
John Humphreys
Manchester Materials Science Centre
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
UK
Max Hatherly
School of Materials
University of New South Wales
Australia
August 1994
The need to reprint the book has provided an opportunity for us to correct some of the
errors and to carry out minor modifications to the text.
May 1996
xvii
Preface to the Second Edition
This second edition has a similar philosophy and format to the first, although
developments in the subject have necessitated some significant changes.
Recrystallization remains a very active research area, judging by the number of
publications and conferences on this and related areas, and the continuing developments
in many areas make it a difficult subject to capture. As in the preface to the first
edition, we ask the reader to remember that this book presents a personal view of the
subject, at a particular moment in time.
There have been two important changes in methods of investigating and analyzing
recrystallization since the first edition. The first is in the experimental determination of
microstructure and texture, where the increase in the power and application of the
Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique has provided data of a type which
was previously unavailable, and many examples of its use are included in the book.
The other change is in the increased amount of modeling and simulation of annealing
processes which is now carried out.
In terms of the subject areas covered in the first edition of the book, there has been
significant new activity in two areas of fundamental importance to the understanding of
recrystallization; the characterization of the deformed state, and the measurement of
grain boundary properties. Some new areas have also opened up. In the first edition we
briefly mentioned new research which indicated that deformation to very large strains
might lead to microstructural stability on subsequent annealing. This has now become a
major research area which is not only of scientific interest, but is also a potential
method of producing strong alloys, and this is given detailed coverage in this edition.
Developments in this and other areas have highlighted the difficulties of applying the
traditional terminologies to new phenomena, and it is now considered necessary to
subdivide recovery, recrystallization and grain growth into “discontinuous” and
“continuous” variants.
Changes in the layout of the book include a separation of deformation microstructure
(Chapter 2) and deformation texture (Chapter 3), introduction of a simple analytical model
which embraces recovery, recrystallization and grain growth (Chapter 10), a consideration
xix
Preface to the Second Edition
of continuous recrystallization during and after large strain deformation (Chapter 14), and a
summary of the methods of measuring recrystallization (Appendix 2).
Finally, access to video clips of some in situ annealing experiments and simulations which
may be of interest, is provided at the Website: http://www.recrystallization.info.
John Humphreys
Max Hatherly
April 2003
xx
Preface to the Third Edition
This third edition hews closely to its predecessors with significant additions in certain areas
where substantial advances have accumulated. In all areas, the text has been reviewed and,
where appropriate, re-written to account for recent additions to the literature. Concerning
the authorship, Max Hatherly is no longer with us, sadly; John Humphreys has retired and is
not to be blamed for any errors or mistakes that we may have introduced in this new
edition. In terms of content, computer modeling of grain boundaries has resulted in new
insights about their properties, especially energy and mobility. The combination of
automated serial sectioning and synchrotron-based characterization has provided 3-D maps
of microstructure and additional new insights. The descriptions of work hardening and
texture have been strengthened.
Anthony Rollett
Gregory Rohrer
August 2017
xxi
Acknowledgments
Figures have been reproduced with permission from the following sources:
The following figures are copied from Acta Materialia with the permission of Elsevier Science,
P.O. Box 800, Oxford OX5 1DX: Fig. 13.10 from Nes, E., Marthinsen, K. 2002 to Daaland and
Nes 1995. Origin of cube texture during hot rolling of commercial AleMneMg alloys. Mater.
Sci. Eng. A322, 176 (Fig. 6). Fig. 2.10 from Liu, Q., Juul Jensen, D., Hansen, N., 1998. Effect
of grain orientation on deformation structure in cold rolled aluminium. Acta Mater. 46, 5819
(Fig. 2). Fig. 16.7 from Upmanyu, M., Srolovitz, D.J., Shvindlerman, L.S., Gottstein, G., 1999.
Misorientation/dependence of intrinsic boundary mobility. Acta Mater. 47, 3901 (Fig. 2).
Fig. 4.21 from Goukon, N., Yamada, T., Kajihara, M., 2000. Boundary energies of S11
[110] asymmetric tilt boundaries. Acta Mater. 48, 2837 (Fig. 2). Fig. 5.2 from Winning, M.,
Gottstein, G., Shvindlerman, L.S., 2001. Stress induced grain boundary motion. Acta Mater.
49, 211 (Figs. 12 and 13). Fig. 5.33 from Protasova, S.G., Gottstein, G., Sursaeva, V.G.,
Shvindlerman, L.S., 2001. Triple junction motion in aluminum tricrystals. Acta Mater. 49,
2519 (Fig. 5). Fig. 2.26 from Duckham, A., Knutsen, R.D., Engler, O., 2001. Influence
of deformation variables on the formation of shear bands in Ale1 Mg. Acta Mater. 49,
2739 (Fig. 3).
The following figures are copied from Scripta Materialia with the permission of Elsevier
Science, P.O. Box 800, Oxford OX5 IDX: Fig. 5.12 from Molodov, D.A., Czubayko, U.,
Gottstein, G., Shvindlerman, L.S., 1995. Mobility of <111> tilt grain boundaries in the
P
vicinity of the special misorientation ¼7 in bicrystals of pure aluminium. Scr. Metall.
Mater. 32, 529 (Figs. 4 and 5). On the description of misorientations and interpretation of
recrystallisation textures. Scr. Mater. 35, 579 (Fig. 4). Fig. 12.7 from Engler, O., 2001b.
An EBSD local texture study on the nucleation of recrystallization at shear bands in the
alloy Al3%Mg. Scr. Mater. 44, 299 (Fig. 1). Fig. 4.7 from Yang, C.-C., Rollett, A.D.,
Mullins, W.W., 2001. Measuring relative grain boundary energies and mobilities in an
aluminum foil from triple junction geometry. Scr. Mater. 44, 2735 (Fig. 4).
The following figures are copied from Materials Science and Engineering, with the
permission of Elsevier Science, P.O. Box 800, Oxford OX5 IDX: Fig. 2.5 from Hughes,
D.A., 2001. Microstructure evolution, slip patterns and flow stress. Mater. Sci. Eng. A319,
xxiii
Acknowledgments
46 (Fig. 4). Fig. 2.5b from Nes, E., Marthinsen, K., 2002. Modeling the evolution in
microstructure and properties during plastic deformation of f.c.c.-metals and alloys e an
approach towards a unified model. Mater. Sci. and Eng. A322, 176 (Fig. 6). Fig. 6.27 from
Haslam, A.J., Phillpot, S.R., Wolf, D., Moldovan, D., Gleiter, H., 2001. Mechanisms of
grain growth in nanocrystalline fcc metals by molecular-dynamics simulation. Mater. Sci.
Eng. A318, 293 (Fig. 4). Fig. 15.3 from Engler, O., Hirsch, J., 2002. Texture control by
thermomechanical processing of AA6xxx AleMgeSi sheet alloys for automotive
applicationsda review. Mater. Sci. Eng. A336, 249 (Fig. 10).
The following figure is copied from Intermetallics, with the permission of Elsevier Science,
P.O. Box 800, Oxford OX5 IDX: Fig. 8.7 from Huang, Y.D., Froyen, L., 2002. Recovery,
recrystallization and grain growth in Fe3Al-Based Alloys. Intermetallics 10, 473 (Fig. 5).
The following figures are copied from Materials Science and Technology with the
permission of Maney Publishing, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DB: Fig. 3.3
from Hirsch, J., 1990b. Correlation of deformation texture and microstructure. Mater. Sci.
Technol. 6, 1048 (Fig. 3). Fig. 15.15 from Hayes, J.S., Keyte, R., Prangnell, P.B., 2000.
Effect of grain size on tensile behavior of a submicron-grained Ale3wt%Mg alloy. Mater.
Sci. Technol. 16, 1259 (Fig. 6).
The following figure is copied from Materials Science Forum, with the permission of Trans
Tech Publications Ltd., Brandrain 6, CH-8707, Ueticon-Zuerich, Switzerland: Fig. 3.15
from Benum, S., Engler, O., Nes, E., 1994. Mater. Sci. Forum 157e162, 913.
In the first edition of this book we acknowledged a great debt to those with whom we had
discussed and argued over the subjects covered by this book over a period of very many
years. During the writing of the book we had particularly useful discussions and
correspondence with Brian Duggan, Bevis Hutchinson, and Erik Nes. A large number of
others helped by providing advice, material, and in many other ways. They include
Sreeramamurthy Ankem, Mahmoud Ardakani, Christine Carmichael, Michael Ferry, Brian
Gleeson, Gunther Gottstein, Brigitte Hammer, Alan Humphreys, Peter Krauklis, Lasar
Shvindlerman, Tony Malin, Paul Munroe, Nigel Owen, Phil Prangnell, Fred Scott, Karen
Vernon-Parry, and David Willis.
A significant amount of the new research which has contributed to the second edition of the
book has been carried out in Manchester, and the strong support of the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council and Alcan International is gratefully acknowledged.
The help, advice, and support of Pete Bate has been particularly valuable, and the
Manchester Light Alloy Processing Group, including Philip Prangnell, Norman Ridley,
Hedieh Jazaeri, Peter Hurley, Yan Huang, Andrew Clarke, Martin Ashton, Ian Brough, and
Matthew Jones, and their provision of data and figures has made a major contribution to this
edition. During the preparation of the second edition, critical comments and suggestions
xxiv
Acknowledgments
from Michael Ferry and Robert Moon of the University of New South Wales have been
extremely valuable.
The third edition owes much to the research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University on
interfaces, largely under the support from the US National Science Foundation of the
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. ADR and GSR are grateful to the
many individuals who helped with discussion, data, figures, etc.
xxv
Symbols
The following notation is generally used in the text. The subscripts i or n indicate the use of
letters or numbers for particular symbols. On rare occasions where the letters or symbols are
used for other purposes, this is specifically stated.
b Burgers vector of a dislocation
c, cn, C, Cn, Kn These denote “local” constants which are defined in the text
d Diameter of second-phase particle
D Grain or subgrain diameter
Di Diffusivity (s ¼ bulk diffusion, b ¼ boundary diffusion, c ¼ core
diffusion)
Ei Energy, e.g., stored energy of deformation ED
Fv Volume fraction of second-phase particles
G Shear modulus
k Boltzmann constant
M Boundary mobility
n Exponent, e.g., in the JMAK equation
Nv Number of grains or second-phase particles per unit volume
Ns Number of particles per unit area
P or Pi Pressure on a boundary
Q or Qi Activation energy, (for diffusion: s ¼ bulk, b ¼ boundary, c ¼ core)
R Grain or subgrain radius
s Shear strain
t Time
T, Tm Temperature, melting temperature (K)
v Velocity of dislocation or boundary
V Volume
X Fraction recrystallized
a, b Constants
g Energy of an interface or boundary
gSFE, gRSFE Stacking fault energy, reduced stacking fault energy
gb Energy of a high-angle boundary
gs Energy of a low-angle boundary
ε True strain
ε_ True strain rate
q Misorientation across a boundary; also, work hardening rate
l Interparticle spacing (defined in Eq. A2.13)
n Poisson ratio
n0 Atomic vibrational frequency
r Dislocation density
xxvii
Symbols
xxviii
Abbreviations
xxix
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
1.1 Annealing of a Deformed Material
1.1.1 Outline and Terminology
The free energy of a crystalline material is raised during deformation by the presence of
dislocations and interfaces, and a material containing these defects is thermodynamically
unstable. Although thermodynamics would suggest that the defects should spontaneously
disappear, in practice the necessary atomistic mechanisms are often very slow at low
homologous temperatures, with the result that unstable defect structures are retained after
deformation (Fig. 1.1a).
If the material is subsequently heated to a high temperature (annealed), thermally
activated processes such as solid state diffusion provide mechanisms whereby the defects
may be removed or alternatively arranged in configurations of lower energy.
The defects may be introduced in a variety of ways. However, in this book we will mainly
be concerned with those defects, and in particular dislocations, which are introduced
during plastic deformation. The point defects introduced during deformation anneal out at
low temperatures and generally have little effect on the mechanical properties of the
material. In considering only materials that have undergone substantial plastic
deformation, we necessarily limit the range of materials with which we will be concerned.
Metals are the only major class of crystalline material to undergo substantial plastic
deformation at low homologous temperatures, and much of this book will be concerned
with the annealing of deformed metals. However, at high temperatures, many minerals and
ceramics readily deform plastically, and the annealing of these is of great interest. In
addition, some annealing processes such as grain growth are relevant to sintered, cast, or
vapor deposited materials as well as to deformed materials.
On annealing a cold-worked metal at an elevated temperature, the microstructure and the
properties may be partially restored to their original values by recovery in which annihilation
and rearrangement of the dislocations occurs. The microstructural changes during recovery
are relatively homogeneous and do not usually affect the boundaries between the deformed
grains; these changes in microstructure are shown schematically in Fig. 1.1b. Similar
recovery processes may also occur during deformation, particularly at high temperatures, and
this dynamic recovery plays an important role in the creep and hot working of materials.
Figure 1.1
Schematic diagram of the main annealing processes. (a) Deformed state; (b) recovered;
(c) partially recrystallized; (d) fully recrystallized; (e) grain growth; and (f) abnormal grain
growth.
Recovery generally involves only a partial restoration of properties because the dislocation
structure is not completely removed, but reaches a metastable state (Fig. 1.1b). A further
restoration process called recrystallization may occur in which new dislocation-free
grains are formed within the deformed or recovered structure (Fig. 1.1c). These then grow
and consume the old grains, resulting in a new grain structure with a low dislocation
density (Fig. 1.1d). Recrystallization may take place during deformation at elevated
temperatures and this is then termed dynamic recrystallization.
Although recrystallization removes the dislocations, the material still contains grain
boundaries, which are thermodynamically unstable. Further annealing may result in grain
Introduction 3
growth, in which the smaller grains are eliminated, the larger grains grow, and the grain
boundaries assume a lower energy configuration (Fig. 1.1e). In certain circumstances this
normal grain growth may give way to the selective growth of a few large grains
(Fig. 1.1f), a process known as abnormal grain growth or secondary recrystallization.
Recent research has shown that borderlines between the various annealing phenomena are
often unclear, and it is known that recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth may occur
in two ways. They occur heterogeneously throughout the material, such that they may be
formally described in terms of nucleation and growth stages, and in this case, they are
described as discontinuous processes. Alternatively, they may occur uniformly, such that
the microstructures evolve gradually with no identifiable nucleation and growth stages. In
this case, the prefix continuous is used to categorize the phenomena. It should be
emphasized that this is a phenomenological categorization that does not imply the
operation of any particular micromechanism. The “continuous” phenomena include
recovery by subgrain growth, continuous recrystallization and normal grain growth and
the “discontinuous” phenomena include discontinuous subgrain growth, primary
recrystallization, and abnormal grain growth. Therefore, as shown in Table 1.1, there are
at least six static annealing phenomena that need to be considered. Note the modern
approach to phase transformations distinguishes between first-order with latent heat, i.e.,
discontinuities in the first derivative of free energy (with latent heat) versus second-order
with discontinuities in the second derivative. Again, primary recrystallization, for example,
certainly releases heat (as measured by calorimetry) like a first-order transition but there
clearly is no sense in which one can define a thermodynamic equilibrium. Therefore, all
annealing processes are, strictly speaking, second-order transitions.
Although these processes are analyzed separately in later chapters, there are circumstances
when they can be considered within a unified framework, as discussed in Chapter 10. This
has the merit of not only emphasizing the common features of the various processes, but,
in breaking down the conventional distinctions between the various annealing phenomena,
allows also for the emergence of new phenomena which may not conveniently fit into the
traditional categories.
Many metallic materials are produced initially as large castings, which are then further
processed in the solid state by forging, rolling, extrusion, etc., to an intermediate or final
4 Chapter 1
product. These procedures, which may be carried out hot or cold, and which may involve
intermediate anneals, are collectively termed thermomechanical processing. Recovery,
recrystallization and grain growth are core elements of this processing.
To a large extent the mechanical properties and behavior of a metal depend on the
dislocation content and structure, the size of the grains and the orientation or texture of
the grains. Of these, the dislocation content and structure are the most important. The
mechanical properties depend primarily on the number of dislocations introduced during
cold working and their distribution. As this increases from w1011 m2, typical of the
annealed state, to w1016 m2, typical of heavily deformed metals, the yield strength is
increased by up to 5e6 times and the ductility decreased. If the strain hardened material
is subsequently heated to wTm/3, dislocation loss and rearrangement occur and this is
manifested by a decrease in strength and increased ductility. There is an enormous
literature on the magnitude of these changes, and any adequate treatment is beyond the
scope of this book. For details of these the reader is referred to the appropriate volumes of
Metals Handbook.
The grain size and texture after annealing are determined mainly by the
recrystallization process, and there are numerous examples of the need to control grain
size. For example, a small grain size increases the strength of a steel and may also
make it tougher, which is known as the HallePetch effect. However, a large grain size
may be required in order to reduce creep rates for use at high temperatures because
grain boundaries act as sources and sinks of point defects as well as nucleation points
for damage. Single crystal turbine blades in nickel-based superalloys represent the
ultimate engineering realization of the value in eliminating grain boundaries for high
temperature service. Superplastic forming, in which alloys are deformed to large strains
at low stresses, is an important technological process for the shaping of advanced
materials. Great ingenuity must be exercised in producing the required fine grain size
and preventing its growth during high temperature deformation. The control of texture
is vital for the successful cold forming of metals and particularly important examples
are the deep drawing of aluminum or steel to produce beverage cans and car body
parts. In the relatively new field of grain boundary engineering, deformation and
annealing is used to change the types of grain boundaries in the materials without
changing the grain size.
Although the art of metalworking including the procedures of deformation and heating has
been practiced for thousands of years, it is only comparatively recently that some
Introduction 5
understanding has been gained of the structural changes that accompany these processes.
The early history of the annealing of deformed metals was chronicled very elegantly by
Beck (1963), and it is clear that the pace of scientific understanding was largely dictated
by the development of techniques for materials characterization. It should be noted that
this constraint still applies, but recent advances in the scope of computer simulations and
three-dimensional materials characterization have created many new opportunities.
In 1898, Stead proposed that grain growth occurred by grain rotation and coalescence, and
although Ewing and Rosenhain presented convincing evidence that the mechanism was
one of boundary migration, Stead’s idea was periodically revived until the work of
Carpenter and Elam finally settled the matter in favor of boundary migration.
Monographs on Recrystallization
A most important event in the artistic life of the South, and one
whose ultimate results are likely to be of such a far-reaching nature
that is impossible to even roughly estimate their valve at the present
time, occurred on January 18th., 1899. On that day a group of
representative and influential gentlemen met at the residence of Mr.
Theodore Marburg and founded what is known as The Municipal Art
Association of the City of Baltimore. Although the idea of such an
organization is not a new one,—such associations already exist and
are in a flourishing condition in New York, Boston and other Northern
Cities,—no such society can be found elsewhere in the South.
Baltimore can therefore for once be justly congratulated on having
shown a spirit of real enterprise and civic pride, which, sooner or
later, is sure to be followed by all her Southern sisters.
The main object of this new municipal art association is to receive
and collect funds for the beautifying of the public squares and
buildings of the City. It will also use its utmost endeavors—through
experts and disinterested, broad-minded laymen—to have such
funds judiciously expended. It is proposed to enlarge the
membership, which is somewhat limited at present, as much as
possible and at the same time, to form a woman’s auxiliary branch
that will work in harmony with the main organization, composed
exclusively of men. It is estimated that a body of at least two
thousand public-spirited men and women can thus be found and
eventually welded into a powerful association devoted to the very
best artistic interests of the people of Baltimore. If this calculation is
correct, a considerable amount of money will accumulate annually in
the treasury of the society, solely from the collection of the yearly
dues, which have been wisely fixed at the small sum of $5.00. In
order to increase the association’s resources much more rapidly
than is otherwise practicable, it has been resolved that life
membership may be procured by those who are willing to pay the
sum of $100.00, and that the title of “Patron” will be bestowed on all
those who are liberal enough to donate the sum of $1000, or more.
The money so collected from dues and voluntary contributions is to
be carefully husbanded until the amount becomes sufficiently large
to justify the directors in opening a worthy competition for the
decoration of some public building, the erection of a statue, or the
building of a monument of real and lasting artistic merit. It may not
be possible to procure enough money to purchase such a work of art
annually, but it will be a question of only a few years at most before
the results of this much needed society will become evident to the
least observant. It is with feelings of the greatest pleasure that we
commend this highly laudable and intelligent movement to the
people of Baltimore, and we hope they will give it their unswerving
and enthusiastic support.
GEORGE MEREDITH.
Art and artists are continually suffering at the hands of “belletristic
triflers.” Phrase-making is the passion of the day; and as a falsity or
a half-truth concerning literary matters is so much easier of utterance
than the awkward whole truth, that demands lengthy qualifications,
we seldom find the latter gaining in the race with glittering
mendacities. It is not, for instance, the saner body of Matthew
Arnold’s criticism that has been generally absorbed; it is his more or
less questionable catch-words and airy brevities of characterization.
These seem apt to the understanding because they fit so well the
tongue; their convenience gives them their fatal persuasion. The
world likes a criticism in little, a nut-shell verdict, something of
intellectual color that can readily be memorized for dinner-table
parlance, the vague generalization that conceals the specific
ignorance. Macaulay’s “rough pistolling ways and stamping
emphasis,” Scott’s “bastard epic style,” and the conception of
Shelley as “a beautiful and ineffectual angel beating in the void his
luminous wings in vain” have thus come to be solemn verities with
many who care more to talk literature than to read it. A whilom gaiety
of journalism served to convince the public that Whitman’s voice was
a “barbaric yawp”; and consequently his “Leaves of Grass” is seldom
glimpsed save in a spirit of derision. These are some of the unhappy
results of our latter-day strain after “a pregnant conciseness” of
language.
George Meredith like many of his predecessors has suffered much
from the thumb-nail criticism of the day. His judges are apt to insist
upon his mannerisms and to insist on nothing else. The generality of
readers hearing so much about the “mereditherambic style” rest
under the belief that this writer is a tripod of frenzied incoherence;
that he lacks, especially as a poet, both style and substance. That
this is far from being the truth about Meredith’s verse anyone who
has read it with attention well knows. Not only does much of it fulfil
the requisites of orthodox style, but it contains, even more than his
novels, the vital convictions of his mind. Indeed, it is in his verse we
come nearest the real teacher, as we come nearest the man in his
relation to life at large—to the general scheme of things.
A realization of George Meredith’s poetical virtues by the reader of
real literature is due a writer who has proved his claim to genius in a
monumental series of novels, a writer who, while not acceptable to
all, has yet many admirers that regard him as one of the strongest
towers of modern thought. One can, however, scarcely hope for
more than a limited acceptance of his poems; that he should be
popular in the ordinary meaning of the word, as some poets are
taken to heart by the sons of men, is indeed scarcely conceivable.
Such popularity, which is after all an equivocal tribute for the most
part, Mr. Meredith has never aimed to secure. His has been a life of
remoteness from profane ambitions, a life steadfast to the standard
early set for himself—a standard of the highest kind.
And yet, while Mr. Meredith may not exercise the attraction of
many other poets for the general reader, few will deny that in his
fruits of song one tastes the flavor of an original, deep-seeing mind;
that there is in the character of many of his poems what well rewards
the serious attention necessary to their complete comprehension.
Difficult in part they may seem in the casual reading, owing to
combined entanglement of rhetoric and ideas, but few who press
their inquiry past the line of a first natural discouragement of perusal
can fail totally to be affected by the spell they cast over the mind.
Beauty there is unquestionably lurking beneath what seems often a
wilful obscuration of theme. Coming here and there upon some
apparently dry metrical husk of thought, there falls, as from some
frost-bitten flower-pod, a shower of fairy seeds that lodge as a vital
donation within the remembrance. Groping in the midst of a
Meredithian mystery, even the less sensitive ear catches a ritornello
of exquisite, wholly seductive sound. For it is not so infrequently that
like his “The Lark Ascending.”
THOMAS HARDY.
Genius proves itself as much by the tenacity of its taste for one
handicraft as by anything else; it evidences itself not so much in
versatility as in volume. It is rather a mark of mediocre mentality
when a man must needs lay his hand to the doing of this and that.
Genius, as a rule, has no such itch; generally speaking, he is content
to fulfill himself in one given direction—to maintain his being in a
single sphere with a passion superior to that of his fellows. Thus it is
we seldom find after leaving the regions of facile talent writers whose
inspiration expresses itself in prose and poetical form with equal
seriousness; one is the vehicle of the divine voice, the other a mere
diversion. Goethe, it is true, has given us “Wilhelm Meister,” Victor