NEW BOOKS.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 42, 17 August 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS.

Beatbicb : By H. Rider Haggard ; Longmans' Colonial Library ; Melbourne and Sydney, George Robertson & Co. ; Wellington, H. & J. Baillie. This is not exactly a new book, but iti? a new volume of Longmans' Colonial Library, and the first cheap edition of one of the distinguished author's earlier novels. "Beatrice" is not sensational, and ia in strong contrast to She, " " King Solomon's Mines," and other works of the ultrasensational adventurous school, which have made the name of Rider Haggard famous. There is an exciting boat adventure, but " Beatrice " depends for its interest on an unhappy love story— a pure love between a girl and a married man — which has a terribly unhappy ending. The sad story is told with such skill and pathos that the reader can scarcely fail to regret that Mr. Haggard has not written more in the same style, although of course the world would regret the heroes— Zulu, English, Kaffir, and Peruvian — whom he has made so famous. Bababbas : By Marie Corelli ; Metheuns' Colonial Library ; Melbourne and Sydney, George Robertson & Co. ; Wellington, H. & J. Baillie. This is a cheap reprint of a work which, in more expensive form, attained celebrity at a bound. It ia perhaps the most daring effort of the authores9 of "A Romance of Two Worlds." It is a novel founded on the Scriptural references to Barabbas, and a story of surpassing interest has been woven round the central figure. The subject is a repulsive one, but it has been treated with great skill by the authoress. We must, however, say frankly that we do not like subjects of the kind being made use of for fictional treatment, and clever as "Barabbas" undoubtedly is, we do not think literature or the world would have had anything to regret if it had never been writtenIt is not pleasant, nor, iv our opinion, healthy reading. Taxes op Mean Stbkets : By Arthur Mor- * rison ; Metheun's Colonial Library ; Melbourne and Sydney, George Robertson & Co. ; Wellington, H. &J. Baillie. Many of these tales have appeared in different periodicals. Their" deep pathos and graphic descriptions at once aroused publio attention, and stamped Mr. Morrison as a coming man in English literature. They are perhaps the best and strongest things of the land which have appeared since the days of Dickens. Afr. Morrison is evidently familiar with the dark side of London life, and his "Tales of Mean Streets " add confirmation to the oftrepeated assertion that one-half the world has little idea of how the otber half lives. To colonial readers these tales, instinct with life as they are, will come _as a revelation, and excite astonishment mingled with a great pity. No one should miss reading Mr. Morrison's vivid sketches. Diana of thb Cbosswats: By George Meredith; Bell's Indian and Colonial f Library; Melbourne, George Robertson & Co. ; Wellington, H. &J. Baillie. A pretty story, prettily told, in George Meredith's inimitable manner. In fact the narrative is rather more consecutive than is usual in his works. The first introductory chapter may not favourably impress the ordinary novel reader, but the remainder of the book will charm. Diana is a most lovable person, and honest Tom Redworth a diamond of the first water. There is a slight suspicion of burlesque about Mr. Sullivan Smith, and indeed in the Irish references generally. Good use is made in the story of the well-known newspaper incident of Mr. Delane (Mr. Tonans in the novel) getting information as to Sir Robert Peel's change of front on the Corn Law question, and astounding Europe by the premature disclosure in the columns of The Times. Mr. Meredith uses a novelist's privilege in explaining how the disclosure was made. Some of the chief incidents of the story hinge upon the incident, but it -would scarcely be safe to accept the explanation a 9 historically correct. There are some anachronisms in the book, but it is one which, on the whole, will be read with pleasure and laid down with regret.