LIGHT LITERATURE SOME RECENT NOVELS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 24

LIGHT LITERATURE

SOME RECENT NOVELS

One of the most original and popular of first novels published last year was Hugh Talbot's "Gentlemen—tho Regiment." The vigour and romanticism which abounded in it are likewise present in tho same author's new novel, "Gay Pagan" (Dent). Thi3 is a roinaueo of Cornwall in tho daya of the brandy and lace smugglers, when even the pioneering Methodists, some of them orgiastic in their religious devotion, were concerned in the illicit trade. We see the starving miners and fishermen flocking like vultures at news of a wreck. We attend impassioned prayer meetings and silent rurii runnings. And we listen to the lovers whispering on the cropped-heather, with wild ponies sniffing unheeded at them. The Cornwall of olden days comes to life in this virile romance.

The theme of "No Victory Here," by Michael Smith (Duckworth), is a woman's long struggle with the craving for 'drink. It is a dramatic story of family relations, now restraining her, now driving her to excess, and of all tho misery and complications which her weakness entails for her husband and children and herself. The story is all the more moving because Michael Smith is contented to observe quietly, with sympathy and understanding, and restrains himself from any propaganda.

The characters in "Sea Change," by Charles Lloyd-Jones (Lovat Diekson), are living people antl the action covers a wide field. The comic aspects of a general election and. a plan to establish the world's best pub in-the world's most unpromising little town arc humorous incidents in the story which works up to a climax at sea.

A graphic picture of London's dockland is drawn by W. Townend in "Ma Bro.wn" (Herbort Jenkins). Ma Brown presided behind the bar of the Crow's Nest, a public-house on the banks of the Thames, and she is more than capable of dealing with the various rugged characters who make their appearance in this story.

"Phantdm Rustlers," by Francis W. Hilton (Geoffrey Bles), is a stirring cowboy story. The activities of cattle thieves include three mysterious murders, a fourth being prevented by the hero who .solves the mystery. Another fast-moving romance of frontier crime and rough border justice is "Trigger Justice," a .Wild West Club book by Clem Tore.

The hero of "The Sentimental Orook," by Alexander Wilson (Herbert Jenkins), was disappointed in love. He therefore wandered round the world breaking the law in various ways with profit^ to himself. Finally, however, ho landed in prison, camo to the conclusion that the crooked game was not worth! the candle, reformed, fell in love, and lived happily ever afterwards. CRIME STORIES. ' On the train conveying the Governor of Bengal from Calcutta to Bombay is death in many forms, and among the victims is the Governor himself. In the space of thirty hours or so happen so many thrills that "Bombay Mail," which describes them all, is about as replete with excitement as possible. The author is Lawrence G. Blochman, and 'the story is a Crime Club publication. Another Crime Club publication is "Desire to Kill,", by Alice Campbell. A notorious young lady gave each of her guests at a party an Lidian sweet which,"contained a drug calculated to induce slumber and pleasant dreams. Later, into the circle of sleepers walked someone with a dagger, and the young lady in question never awoke in this world again. The conundrum to be solved is the identity of her slayer.

A station sneak-thief obtained possession of a trunk, but he got something of a shock when he opened it, for hunched up in it was a corpse. "Murder Mask," by Garstin Begbie (Herbert Jenkins), contains full dotails as to what then happened. Another Herbert Jenkins publication is "Mystery of the Red-Haired Valet," a thriller by G. Davidson. -, '

The cold-blooded iniquity of a scheming woman is described in "Ann Kembal,".by Frances Layland Barratt. She is a successful murderess who leads an apparently conventional life, her iniquity only being made known after her death.

Horror-and suspense are well blended in "Strange Witness," by Beryl Symons (Herbert Jenkins). This is a detective story, highly improbable, but sufficiently readable to pass away pleas : antly an idle hour. .