LITERARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 184, 6 August 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

LITERARY NOTES.

'William Ewart Gladstone, States-, man and Scholar,' edited by David Williamson, is one of the best of t he biographies of the deceased .statesman that has been called forth by his recent death. The editor, in his pre-: face, says the aim of the volume has been to give a careful chronicle not only of the political career of certainly the busiest politician of the century, but also to complete the picture of the activities of Mr Gladstone in other fields by recording1 his acts and speeches in connection with theology, literature, and art. This aim has been fully achieved. ,After, a brief sketch of Mr Gladstone's early life at home, school, and university, his biographer proceeds to, describe his entrance into politics. From that time onward Mr Gladstone's biography becomes almost a history of the great political events of the last half century. It outlines all the controversies that have stirred the surface of political life during that period, and the part Mr Gladstone took iii relation to these questions is illustrated by judicious extracts from speeches and writings. Many personal1 incidents serve as side lights that bring phases of character into broad relief." The book is suitably illustrated and well bound in cloth. _ We have received a copy from the publishers, Messrs Ward, Lock, and Co., through Mr Sprecldey, bookseller.

Now, when the subject of AngloSaxon reunion is occupying men's minds,a novel dealing with the events, political and military, of the American war of independence should find favour. Of this character is the charming novel 'Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker, sometime Brevet Lieufc.-Colonel on. the Staff of General Washington,' by S. Weir Mitchell, M.D., LLD., Harvard and New York. The story is a picturesque pourtrayal of the civil and military life of the times, and its hero participates in some of the most stirring episodes of the war, including the final surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The book is full of incident, and does not contain a dull page. It has been issued in Unwin's Colonial Library.

We have another addition to the painstaking work of S. E. Crockett in 'The Standard Bearer,' recently published by Messrs Methuen and Co., and a copy of which we have received through Messrs Geo. Robertson and Co., per favour of Messr& Wildman and Lyell. Eeaflers of fiction who have not given the fashionable kailyard novels a hearing, or perhaps we might more correctly say a reading, should not fail to peruse 'The Standard Bearer.' The dialect is not so broad but what anyone can enjoy it, and to the simple story of a Free Church parson's life during the trying timls1 bi ttiii CkivSiia.ntets the author has lent a subtle charm inbre difficult of analysis . than appreciation.

In Maurice Hewlett has come. to light yet another disciple of the elder Dumas. The 'Forest Lovers' from his pen, published by Messrs Macmillah and Co. in their Colonial Library, i& one of the best novels of its class 01 ihe year. Jt deals, riot with the intrigues of a court, like the majority of historical novels of the present day, but is "a story of early life : iri the West of 'England in the old feudal days; and monks, rascally and otherwise, ladies of high estate, grand sirs, and fighting men, jostle each other through its pages. The main theme of the book concerns itself with the adventures of one Prosper le Gai, andthe outcome of a "romantic chivalry which prompted him to marry a poor girl to save her from death or dishonour. The book has not a dtill page, and perhaps the only fault that can be found is a tendency on the part of the author to dwell somewhat unnecessarily on matters of questionable taste*. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the book from the publishers through Messrs Champtaloup and Cooper. Messrs Longman, Green and Co. have added still another to the long list of books by IT. Rider Haggard published in their Colonial Library. In 'Dawn'%e havea novel that will bear favourable comparison with some of the author's best work. Rider Haggard commands a big reading public, but we venture to say that those who have not read 'Dawn' will find no cause for dissatisfaction in its perusal. From Messrs Geo. Eobertsoh and Co., of Melbourne and Sydney, Messrs Wildman and Lyell, and from Messrs Upton and Co., we acknowledge receipt of copies of 'Dawn.' ,

The second of the series of .articles^H in the 'Pall Mall Magazine' byGeDp.. ral Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.8., entitled' 'Old Memories,' more than fulfils tha promise of interest that the first gave/ His reminiscences of the Afghanistan..:; Campaign must rank with the best that has been written on the subjectPart V.- of Sir Walter Besant's 'South London' is a contribution of exception;' nal interest to the June number of the same magazine; while those who . are interested in. the novel manner wSi which statistics have been set forth-' from time to time in the 'Pall Mali' will be pleased to hear that a seriei • has been commenced on the interest- ■ ing subject of 'Crime.' In cdhthnia- ' tion of the series of articles on the' 'Capitals of Greater Britain,'. Ottawa:, is treated, and as the subject lends I itself to profuse illustration, an inter-.' estin;" article is the result. In the de-' partinent of fiction Anthony Hopes. sequel to the 'Prisoner of Zenda' is ad-' ■ vanced a stage, and the story fulfils. our earlier estimate, for instead of;: being weak like most sequels, it is*, r really better than the original. Other, interesting fiction is contained in the number in C. J. Cutliffe Hyrie's 'Prince Rupert,-the Buccaneer' .(part. III.); E. Nesbit's 'Xosl's Princess,' and Mimoli C. Fraser's 'She Danced Before Him.' The magazine is forwarded tous by the publishers.

Rudyard Kipling1 contributed; a-;i somewhat enigmatical poem to ..the • June number of the Windsor, on the subject of torpedo destroyers. Like the verses, the illustrations, though effective, are obscure. The ssnie number contains the opening chap-' ters of a new serial by Guy Boothby. Pharos, as the story is called, opens.' I more strongly .than any of the author's previous efforts for this popular magazine, which is saying a-good" deal; and like the work in which Mr Boothby has excelled, his new story '■■■-'■ will evidently depend for its main interest on the over-mastering and fas-' einating personality of one person—v Pharos, the Egyptian. The first- instalment of an account of Xansen's Polar expedition, by Lieutenant Hjalmar Johansen, which promises to be the preface of a most interesting series > of articles appears in the -June Windsor. Harry Furniss is quite in his best vein in a series of pen and ink sketches dealing with Adelaide, and the peculiarities 01 its . people.' An interesting article on some : famous cricketers is contributed by C. B. Fry. the well - known Sussex player. Ernest Williams continues his sketch of the Imperial ■ Heritage, and J. Paul Taylor is re- ■ spdnsible for an.interesting article onfly fishing. In .the department of fiction Cottrel Hoe gets that wonder-.; ful young, lady,' 'Jennie Baxter, Jour : nalist,' into a most complex problem,, and Percy Andrea© contributes the , final adventure of the 'Emperor's Detective.' Besides short stories In Sydney Cowell and Ethel Turner, the June Windsor contains an interesting, collection of miscellaneous articles. :

The .interesting articles in the 'National Review for May are 'The Advance on the Soudan,' by Charles Williams,1 which puts concisely and 6learly the position in the Soudan, and the step? • that'have led up to it; 'The Chartered Company,' by L. March-Phillips, being a moire open criticism of, the affairs of this big company th;in has appeared for sometime: and Tho Autocrat ,of the. Sick Ilcom,' being a short dissertation on nurses and their influence, by Lady M. Vane. A Maurice Low writes' intelligently on Ameri'-1"' affairs, and T. Miller Maguire'epntri butes a suggestive article on 'Siifp/U in War,' which is really a capable sitting forth of historical surprises drill ! a- capable argument in favour dffos-, tering of,.a. strong national'military' spirit. An appeal for more prominence"'" to Australasian affairs in the English press is made in tlic 'Colonial Chronicle,' and the subjects mboth, ■ this and 'Episodes of the Month',.ire" v capably handled by writers faimliar./ with their subjects'. We have received a copy of the National Eeview'Jor ; May from the publishers. ; In 'Chambers' Journal' for-June 'John Burnet, of Burns,' the interest- ;! ing story by John Buchan, is confirm- , cd. The same number contains three, exceptionally interesting short stories in 'A Mystery of the Sword,' by E. and . H. Heron; ''Frida Peterson's Lover, by Charles Edwards, and 'MurchiSofliS ■ ■ March,' a story of Alaska, by Harold Bindlass. Out of a dozen geneial articles perhaps the most interesting are - 'The Feature of Electrical -Engineering,' '.The African Guano ■■•Island?, 'The Finest Cycling Eoute •in p*\ World' (by John Foster Fraser), no; 'The Jew in Modern Life (by An.:". = White). One of the most interes^", • features of 'Chambers' Journal is --■- epitome of movements of interest Ji the World of Science atid Art.

Eolf Boldrewood's 'Plain Living,, with its commonplace people, cpnvK:-. satiori, and' hackneyed ideas, Wjgm appropriately have been called Ur'>|v* in the Back Blocks, a Sermon by a c Country Prig-.' Harold .Stamford.X.» : squatter at Windahgil, and just as ne ; . is about to be ruined by the drought-_ he comes up to Sydney and manges to transfer his mortgage Ir6irt ;^ ; bank, which is putting- on the screw, to a land-company, the manager m Which afterwards becomes ■hT^s?";-':" law. At the same time he conves n^ k legacy of £173,000, but M^jSgß | life "in'the lap of luxury uaSj;VU]^> _._ Carlo and Josie, the children- o* ■■' , friend Grancl.ison, he determines^ .: keep the. windfall dark and. ■}?} own virtuous prigs of eh/ilurt-n., . *• - tiniie to live a frugal Ufe.of-lun^v;-innocence' and 'unsullied Dloonl-^-ir! back blocks until they have way in the world. The book-is^.^ lines of the Sunday tract Mfio« picts the successful career B'»>aiu»: the good little boy who goes'|o..^^ day school and never forgets -to- ._ : his prayers, and the ruin t'l"^.^ takes the bad littleboy who Roe^ or .S ing on Siinday. afternoons. '\&mMfm tune strews her gifts broadcast 9?f ■£ upright Stamfords, while the x^'fbe v pered town-bred Grandisons go to,^:: dogs. Finally old Stamford, *W;-, . much moralising and Pharisaic, to*V :■;..: ing of Heaven that his children^ not as others, ■ discloses his *i/o'i,: v when it is of no particular Use to.« J > one, and the curtain falls on "l the triumphant.' 'Plain Living•: *%■s;; sort of respectable book Wltlv"^ jfr, that might be written by the «e^ Brown; Rolf Boldrewood IK lc " AV .j t h: more entertaining when he «eal.. ]uut^ blackguards and bushrangers «i» ■_ any. "The book has been issuea , Macmillan's Colonial Library. .