RAPID REVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

RAPID REVIEWS.

RURITANIA REVIVED. " Tbe King C'omcs Back" by Victor Bridges (Hodder and Stougliton). " Spanish Lover" by Frank H. Spearman (Tlodder and Stougliton). " Margaret Yorko " by Kathleen Norris (Murray). " Murder in Earl's Court " by Neil Gordon (Bodley Head).

Mr. Victor Bridges is a master of the art of story-telling. He deftly mingles murder and mystery with a sparkling and irresistible humour. In " Tbe King Comes Back " he crosses the Ruritanian border and with gay audacity lifts as much as he requires of Tho Prisoner of Zenda," and retells it with so much verve that one is tempted to forget that Dick Brandon is but Rudolf Rassendyle brought up-to-date, tho Princess Maren a renamed Flavia, and General Strovno a second Sapt. However, tho whole thing goes with a swing, and the author, not perhaps possessing the artistic conscience of his predecessor, does not scruple to provide a happy ending for tho love story of the princess and the impostor.

Who can mad Chesterton's " Lepanto " without a stirring of the heart, without a wistful salute to " the last knight of Europe 11 as he goes " riding to the sea " 1 "■ Spanish Lover "is Air. Frank H. Spearman's attempt to make a prose romance out of this same Don John of Austria. It would be idle to pretend that he has succeeded. Success in such'a field requires the grand manner, and this manner Mr. Spearman conspicuously lacks. Without desiring a return to the " tushery " of the old-fashioned, historical novel it is yet disconcerting to find modern Americanisms on the lips of " the last and lingering troubadour." When he asks where the galleys have been " operating "or repudiates any danger of my bluff being called," then and a hundred other times, glamour fades and illusion is. shattered. Romance may yet bring up the nine-fifteen, but the author of " Spanish Lover " evidently catches a still later train. * * * * *

" Margaret Yorkc > " is the latest of Kathleen Norris' ever-lengthening list. The story of the poor and proud dependant who wins the love of the young millionaire, has been a popular favourite since the days of King Cophetua and the beggar maid. Mrs. Norris herself, has used it very frequently, and there is 110 reason to suppose that the present version will be any less successful with her loyal public than those which have preceded it.

" Murder in Earl's Court " supplies tho " thriller " still apparently in insatiable demand. It is tho story of Peter Kerrigan, a young gentleman who lives by his wits, but draws the line at murder. How lie tracks down the mysterious gang, secures the freedom of the foolish young drug-addict, Lord Ferndell, and wins tho gratitude of the lovely Lary Marv —all these threads combine to produce an excellent specimen of a kind of writing not •nearly as easy as it looks.