BOOK NOTICE.

Evening Star, Issue 7647, 25 June 1888, Page 2

BOOK NOTICE.

Heir Paulus, by Walter Besant. George Robertson and Co., publishers, Melbourne ; Joseph Braithwaite, bookseller, Dunedin,

To merely mention that Walter Besanb had written a novel would be sufficient guarantee that it would be interesting reading. He generally avoids a beaten track ; bringing at times vivid pictures of the past into strong relief, or seizing some prevalent, startling mystery of the time and illustrating it in its effects upon the modes of thought and Practice of society. In the story ' Herr aulus' we are treated with a peep into Spiritualism. Only a: ew years ago almost every drawing room party, as a part of the evening's amusement, experimented in table-turning, or spirit-rappings, or some kindred manifestations; while enthusiastic disciples of the theory, in a rough and unscientific way, endeavored to strengthen themselves in their faith by holding special seances, at which tjpirits were invoked to communicate with them directly or through accredited media. It was no new thing, although it assumed different phases at different periods. The last, originating with the American Fox family, spread most widely, and obtained hundreds of thouands of believers in all the civilised countries of Europe, America, Australia, and in fact in every colony where Europeans had settled. This latter phase of the marvellous has been woven into the story of ' Herr Paulus.' Mr Besant has made ' himself master of, at least, the outward manifestations of spiritualism, and has worked up his description of a seance into a scene of thrilling interest. We will not lessen the interest of the story by detailing the plot. Apparently Mr Besant himself is no believer in the doctrines he details, but has more, faith in good sound common sense. He therefore introduces characters which are the antitheses of the disciples of Spiritualism ; and thus, notwithstanding the vivid descriptions of successful manifestation's, he contrives to dissipate their illusions. In matter, style, detail, and plot' Herr Paulus' ib most interesting)