NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14072, 17 June 1911, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

RECENT FICTION,

"Tho Cost," by David Graham Phillips, is one- of those biting novels of modern American life, in which tho author shows up the -unscrupulous and frenzied methods of finance by whi<;h millionaires are made and unmade. Incidentally, we get an insight into Iho insido working of American politics of tho more strenuous order. The closing seene —a titanic struggle on the Stock Exchange conducted by Dumont with his back against Death's door, recalls tho most thrilling pages of "The Pit." (London: T. WerneT Laurie. Christchurch: Gordon and Got-ch Pty., Ltd., Manchester street. 2s 6d.)

Ik "The Pinfold," Mr J. S. Flefcher gives Uβ some moro of his inimitablescenes of Yorkshire rural life. Tho ancient village of Starfchington consists of two parts—Up-town, the property of a gentleman who looked after it with attention; Down-town, the property of nobody, where tho villagers lived in squalor and misery. Tho thatchers, ploughmen and shepherds aro depicted to the life, and oue of tho farmer's wives, with a shrewish tongue, is almesv equal to Mrs Poyser for h-er com-mon-sense philosophy of life and quaint turns of speech. (London: G. Bell and Sons. ChristcJiureh.: Simpson and Williams. 2s 6d.)

Now that the House of X*ords Ims come so prominently into the arena of political discussion, Mr John Galsworthy has choeen. a particularly apt time for giving us, in "The Patrician," his views on tho English aristocracy. It is a careful study of life and character, with the country-house ns the principal tnise-en-ecene, while Mr Galsworthy keeps his satirical rapier bright as ever, and tho wounds ho inflicts, although they cut- deep, are always o'ean. (London: William Hdnemann. 2s 6d.)