SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

I "Up, the Rebels!" | "George Birmingham," otherwise 1 Canon llannay, is yronrh- daring when he deals, as he does in his latest story, ■ mainly in a humorous vein, with tho Sinn Fein movement. In "Up, the Rebels!" .(Mcthuen and Co.) lie. draws an '| amusing picture! of the awkward situation in w-iiirii. '-iv ['lick Connolly, a high permanent official at "the Castle," fimis himself when his daughter Vwn.ii openlv I espouses the Sinn l'ein cause, takes part in seditious.meetings, and finally carries her enthusiasm for "the cause" to the extreme of joining in the proclamation of theJrish Republic at the usually verv quiet little country town of Dunally. Th'o story is full of sly satiric touches neither British and Dublin officialism nor certain of the wilder spirits of the revolutionary movement escaping the mild flicks of .-.he author's light whip. The liest drawi, certainly the most entertaining, character in the story, is Sir Ulick's sister, a jolly country dame, notable iu the hunting field, and full of . typical liish verve and good humour. Tho ingenious and impudent way in which the good lady rides ronglishod over the rules and regulations of the now famous "'Dora' 1 (Defence of tho Realm | ! Act),, is vastly amusing. Mrs. Bryan, I : foo. is net without some very shrewd ! views on politics, more particularly Irish : politics. She upbraids her easy-going ■;' brother, Sir Ulick, for his indecision and ; ■procrastination, and remarks, "If there's j a.fence in fiont of. you, ride at it. If j you don't get over you'll probably get 1 j through. You'll do neither if von sit'

in front of it trying l to explain to it tnnt il: mightn't to bo there." Thero is both laughter mid tears in (.ho story, which, ike everytlhing wo lmvo yet had from the author of "Spanish' Gold," is full of shrewd wit and wholesome entertainment generally. "The Noile Art." (( Are you interested in the so-called noble art of self-defence." .Are Jack! Johnson, Peter Jackson, Jim Jeffries, to say nothing of such bygone celebrities ot the ring as figure in Conan Doyle's Modney Stone" or Sorrow's famous stones, the people you like to read about? Have you 'Pugiiisfica" and "Fistiana" on your shelves? 11 so, then possess yourself without delay of a copy of Mr. A. G. Ilales's latest novel, "Nut Brown Maid niul Nut_ Brown Mare" (Tlorlder and Stoughton). Xo one knows the modern ring-world and its chief figures better than Mr.. "Smiler" Hales. His story begins at Reno, where a young Englishman ot Hood faniily witnesses the defeat of Jeffries by the negro champion, Jack Johnson, and forthwith registers a determination to .train as a'fighter, and some day sooner or later win back the championship for the White race. Jlr. Hales tells how young Jack Chesney becomes a sawyer, a blacksmith's striker, and . a (piarryman, with a view to becoming fit, how he meets and picks up hints from retired boxers of renown, and how eventually lie enters the prize ring. Also, incidentally, how lie wins the love of a bonnv English girl, the "nut brown maid of the title, and helps his father, a keen sportsman, to train and win a big race with • a certain "nut brown mare." In his racing scenes Mr. Hales reminds us not a little of our old friend Ant. Gould. The rural scenes in .the story are full of picturesque colour, and there is an old gipsy woman in the story who inight have conic straight out of "Tlie Romany Rye" or "Lavengro." A rattline yarn in which all who like to read of pugilism and racing will find excellent entertainment. Ramsey Mulholland. Tn the earlier chapters of Mr. Booth Tarkinston's latest story, "Ramsey Milholland" (Hodder and Stoughton), tli-a boy life of the hero, a jolly young American lad, distinctly recalls memories of that delightful youngster, Penrod. Later on. Mr. Tarkington takes his hero to a university centre, and New Zealand read' qrs should.be greatly, interested in the many vigorously drawn sketches of an academic life very different from what! wo have in this country. How the war comes, how it is viewed by the college youths—and maidens—bow the university '

world, at first not a little inclined to "noii-intorvenlion," not to sjty straightout pacifism, changes its trfie, tho hero being the first volunteer, is duly sot forth by Mr. Tarkington in a story which is full of pleasantly humorous touches. In view of Ramsey's sound and frankly expressed opinions Tfjkm Anie"iea's responsibilities with regard to tho Hun menace, aliko to European i and American civilisation, it would bo interesting to know what, if ho ever existed in real life. Mr. Tarkington's hero would have to say as to tho attitude now taken up by Senators "Lodge, Borah. Johnson. and other politicians of tho same type. To most readers of theJx>ok Ramsey's relations with the faithless Milla, with Dora Yocum, a feminine prig who is one of the most amusing characters in. the story, and other young ladies of the High School sisterhood, will prove . the most entertaining feature of the j'Mvel. Sim-" Mark Twain no one has given us such amusing pictures of young America as those wo get from Mr. Tarkington. There, is not a little in common between Penrod and Eamsey and . that delightful young scamp, Tom Sawyer. "The Desperate Marriage." Violet Hedley, -the heroine of Marjory Rovce's novel, "The Desperate Mar■rinss" (Hodder. and Stoughton), is a young lady of gentle birth and good education. who acts as governess to the onlv daughter of a middle-aged country Jentleman whose wife, a spoiled and selfish beauty, neglects her child and scarcely cares to hide her complete lack of affection for her husband. With the latter the governess falls in love, but when at last there is an open breach between Jim Hackworth and his wife and the former, goes off to Africa, Violet is peremptorily dismissed,, and returns to live with her family. Then' comes the war and a good-looking officer, who thinking she has money becomes a passionate suitor. Believing that she will never see Hackworth again, and acting also under family pressure, she marries the officer, only to find that Hackworth's wife has Keen drowned at sea, and that the man she still loves is now free. Her husband returns to. France, and dies at Boulogne. Going through his papers she discovers that he has been grossly unfaithful to her. and Hackworth, returning to England, the pair come together again, and the rest can be guessed. A readable enough story.