What to Read During the Holidays.

New Zealand Mail, 3 December 1896, Page 63

What to Read During the Holidays .

MESSES GASS-EtiL & Co. (Ltd.), London* 3?A#,is and Melbourne.

Messrs Cassell & Co. "were foremost ■amongst the ranks of pioheers in tho Aork of publishing good, whoieiAcfe, entertaining and instructive IbOGk't at a price suited the limited hieans of the masses, and well do th'cy sustain the reputation they achieved so many years ago. From the Melbourne branch of the firm we have received, through Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, of this city, a parcel of their recent publications, to which we now refer to in detail, >

First, A 3 to a book tzhooC appearance ha,3 *39071 eagerly a waited* W e refer to Miss Lilian Turner's story, “ The Lights of Sydney, The author is a sister of the talented Miss Ethel Turner, whose “ Seven Little Australians ” achieved such an unqualified success and whose most recent work, “ The Little Larrikin,” is reviewed in another column. “ The Lights of Sydney,” we may mention, won the first prize in an open competition advertised throughout the British Empire in QaSsell’s Family Magazine,, and this fact alone should create for the book a good deal of anticipatory interest. The story betrays great powers of observation on the part of its writer, who is evidently a very clever 3 dung lady with a special gift for descriptions of home and child life, and of do ordinary talent as an inventor of effective incidents and clever dialogue. The plot is perhaps the weakest point, but the charming way in which the small joys an d sorrows of child life are dealt with, is an ample compensation for any defect in that direction. There is somewhat of a vagueness about the reasons, or want of reasons, for the young wife deserting her home in Melbourne and flying with her child to Sydney, the lights of whose harbour I —“the golden smiling lights of Sydney ” —have afforded the title of the story. Once in Sydney, mother and child go through some very painful experiences, followed by a more peaceful and a happier existence on the Hunter River, where we are introduced to some pleasant children and some very happy delineations of child life and character. Altogether, this is in many ways a very charming book —one which will be a favourite with girls and mothers. Handsomely printed, tastefully bound, and containing eight full-page illustrations by Mr W. H. Margetson, the “Lights of Sydney ” should have an excellent sale at this season of the year.

CasselFs Colonial Library includes works by a host cf popular writers, amongst whom we notice the names of the late Robert Louis Stevenson, Messrs Stanley Weyman, Quiller Couch (“Q”), Rider Haggard, Max Pemberton, Bloundelle Burton, George Manville Fenn, Frank Barrett, Bertram Milford and others. The books are issued in two formats —those in paper covers at 2s 6d, and the same works in handsome and substantial cloth binding at 3s 6d. The four specimen volumes sent us by the publishers are Mr Archibald Forbes’ “ Memories of War and Peace,” Mr E. W. Hornung’s “A Rogue’s March,” Mr Frank Stockton’s “ Mrs Cliff’s Yacht,” and Mr Clarke Russell’s “ What Cheer.”

Mr Archibald Forbes’ book is a collection of sketches and stories dealing mainly with the author’s experiences as a war correspondent for the London Daily News and othe papers. Mr Forbes possesses a clear cut, lucid, vigorous style and he tells the story of the exciting events he has witnessed and of the many eminent men, emperors, kings, princes and generals he has met, in the most entertaining style, His account of an interview with “ Moltke before Metz,” his picture of the “ Dark Days before Sedan,” of “ Paris in Prostration,” of the " Crushing of the Commune,” and of Scenes at Plevna and during the EussoTurkish Campaign generally, are models of descriptive writing. In later chapters he recounts some of his experiences in South Africa, in Burmah, and elsewhere, everywhere giving brilliant pen pictures of stirring scenes in the many campaigns of which he hac been such a careful observer. There is much “inside” history in this capital collection of Mr Forbes’ best sketches and stories, and the book is one whioh will be read with the greatest interest by these who wish to bo well posted up in some of the most potential historical events of the last thirty years of the century. An excellent and striking portrait of the author serves as a frontispiece.

Mr E. W. Hornung’s “ Rogue’s March ” reminds me not a little of “A First Fleet Family,” by Messrs Louis Becke and Walter Jeffrey, but it is a much better written and infinitely more interesting story. Mr Hornung has proved himself in his “A Bride from the Bush,” and in his: « Tiny Luttrell,” to be one of the cleverest of the many novelists who have taken Australian life for their subject during the last five or six years. His is a vigorous vivacious pen, his stories never drag or flag, but are readable from the first page to the last. In "The Rogue’s

March ” he breaks what is fer him fresh ground, and. gives Us a story of the most ekeitihg Character, in which there is a series of faithful historical pictures of the cruel old prison and transportation system of sixty years ago. He shows us Newgate as it was then, with all the horrors and abuses of a prison system which turned men into fiends, and when he brings his leading characters out to the then penal colony of New South Wales, he gets into similar ground to that traversed by Marcus Clarke in that fmfcer’s famous book “ For th'£ term of His Natural Life. For his Australian scenes and incidents Mr Hornung has gone to state records, and his story is largely based upon historical facts. The plot of the story is of an ingenious and enthralling character, and will, we feel convinced, do much to increase its author’s already excellent reputation as a novelist of the first rank.

Mr Frank Stockton will be remembered by many of our roadets as the author of that excruciatingly funny story “ Rudder Grange,” the humour of which was so genuine, so totally free from the forced style of so much that passes for humour in American stories. Latterly he has gone into a new style, and come out as an author of stories of adventure. His “ Adventures of Captain Horn,” published a couple of years ago, was highly praised by the late Robert Louis Stevenson, who was no mean judge of such stories. Mr Stockton now gives us in “Mrs Cliff’s Yacht” a very worthy successor to his “ Captain Horn.” It is a lively, a very lively story, in which startling and most. sensational incidents are presented in rapid succession. The sea scenes are worthy of Clarke Russell, without that otherwise excellent writer’s over - insistence upon marine technicalities. There is some pleasant love-making and a plentiful supply of genuine and most refreshingly original humour. Captain Burke is a character of whom Dickens might have been proud, and as for “Willy” Croup, the lady he eventually marries after a very extraordinary courtship, she is in every way a delightful creation of the novelist’s art. “Mrs Cliff’s Yacht” is one of the best novels for holiday-reading on train or steamer, or under a shady verandah, that we have met with for some time past.

“What Choer,” the latest addition to the long series of capital stories which we owe to the facile and clever pen of W. Clarke Russell, deals with the manners and customs of the British sailorman as he is to be met with at the well-known Channel seaport of Deal. In this story Mr Russell does not, as in some of his previous yarns, deal so much with the shortcomings of the British merchant shipowners and skippers as with those which are occasionally to be met with in the British merchant seaman. “What Cheer” is the story of a wicked sailor named Jeremy Liver, in love with a dark-eyed gipsy girl named Joyce Whitaker, beloved of Captain Heron, a gentlemanly, careless sailor, who is passionately devoted to her. The book relates how this wicked seaman went to work to procure the ruin of Captain Heron. He contrives to ship as an officer on board of the Atlantic, commanded by Captain Heron, and all his efforts are directed to stirring up the men into mutiny against the master. He is altogether too successful. He cuts the lanyards of the shrouds one dark night, and when the yards are braced on the other tack the masts go by the board. Closely interwoven with this story of Lever’s villany is the narrative of his relation with Jessie Collins and it is agreeable to find that so bad a specimen of “Mercantile Jack ” comes to a very appropriately bad end. As usual with Mr Russell’s books, “ What Cheer ” is full of fine word paintings of the sea, the picturesque aspects of the famous Downs and English Chanuel being done full justice to. There is a fresh, breezy air about the whole story which will please the .old admirers of this popular author and gain for him many new friends.

At last Messrs Cassell & Co. give us a cheap popular editibn of Dean Farrar’s famoxis “Life of Christ.” It is a standard book, this, which can bo found in thousands of homes in England and in the colonies and should be found in every home. It is too late in the day to dwell upon the charm of Dean Farrar’s beautiful study of our Saviour’s life and works. Suffice it to say that the new edition, with its stout handsome binding, audits reproductions of the original illustrations by Holman Hunt and other great artists should have a very large sale.

We have also received the first part of a new serial publication by Messrs Cassell & Co., to wit, “ Pictorial England and Wales,” the plates in which are fully equal to those which appeared in the same firm’s publication, “ The Queen’s London,” favourably alluded to in the columns of the Mail some months ago. The new series will consist of eleven parts and will include no fewer than 320 copyright illustrations, executed from photographs specially taken for the work. The clearness and artistic

SOME NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

beauty of the engravings in the specimen cbpy we have received and are deserving of the highest praise. The price of the parts is 6d each. MESSRS BLACKIE AND SON (London and Melbourne). “ The Young Colonists,” by G. A. Henty. “ An Ocean Outlaw,” by Hugh St. Leger. “ Banshee Castle,” by Rosa Mulholland. “Grettie, the Outlaw,” by S. Baring Gould. Books for Little Children. As purveyors of popular and wholesome literature, Messrs Blackie and Son are a very 'well-known firm. Their gift books are always handsomely printed, liberally illustrated, and well bound, and one can rest assured that tho contents are always readable and healthy in tone. Through their Melbourne branch the firm have sent sent us a parcel of recently-published works, to which we now proceed to refer in detail. All English boys, as we can jersonally vouch "for, know and esteem the name of G. A, Henty, who regularly produces every year for their special delectation some three or four capital yarns, generally full of sensational incidents such as the youthful mind takes delight in, and in which also many adult readers find excellent recreation. This year Mr Henty’s first book is “The Young Colonists,” a tale of the Zulu and Boer wars. It is a stirring story of the adventures of two bright manly English lads who go out with their father to South Africa, and who settle on a farm situated near the Zululand frontier. For a time their most exciting experiences are with horses, elephants and other big game, but by and bye comes more serious work. Cetjwayo, the great Zulu chief, declares war and as the two lads have gained considerable experience of the country they join the British forces as guides, are present at the terrible disaster at Isandula and take part at the decisive battle at Ulundi where Cetywayo’s impis are defeated and his power for ever broken down. After an interval we find them again in the thick of fighting, this time against the Boers, and some very exciting pictures of the battles of Laing’s Nek and Majuba Hill are skilfully presented by the author. A capital story this for the boys and one which will give young New Zealanders a very fair idea of life in the far away South Africa. The illustrations, drawn by Mr Simon H. Vedder, are spirited compositions, and well engraved.

With its handsome cover design, a picturesque and dramatically conceived drawing by Mr William Rainey, Mr Hugh St. Leger’s story of the sea, “An Ocean Outlaw,” a story of adventure in the good ship Margaret, is just the sort of book to captivate the heart of a lad who loves to read of “ deeds of derring do.” The story, which is told in a bright, breezy, readable, style, is that of the seafaring experiences of one Jimmy Ducks, who is a cabin boy on the good ship Margaret. Little Jimmy is a fair little sample of the British sailor man, full of high spirits aud given to practical jokes in fair weather, handy at his post in a gale and a perfect hero when there is any fighting to be done. He needs all his high spii’its and his heroism when he and his messmates come to tackle the redoubtable ocean outlaw and that scoundrel’s yet more scoundrelly crew, castaways on Frank Island. It is Jimmy, of course —the experienced reader knows beforehand —to whom the frustration of the villainous plans of the pirates is largely due and the author deserves credit for the ingenious and novel device by which the “skull and cross bones” men and their loader are entrapped in their own stronghold. The pictures are full of life and add very much to the attraction of the story, especially from a boy’s point of view. Both an “Ocean Outlaw” and “Young Colonists” would make excellent Xmas gift books for boys.

Messrs Blackie and Son havo, like so many other publishing firms, a Colonial Library, in which they publish recently issued copyright works of fiction by writers of established reputation aud popularity. The firm issue their colonial series in two styles: in paper covers at 2s fid and in an exceptionally stout and extremely artistic cloth binding at 3s fid. Looking down the list of volumes already published we notice novels by such highly popular writers as Frankfort Moore, S. Baring Gould. George McDonald, G. A. Henty, G. Manville Fenn, Professor Church, and others equally and favourably famous. The two specimen volumes now before us are “ Banshee Castle,” by Rosa Mulholland and “ Grottir the Outlaw,” by S. Baring Gould, the author of “ Mciahah,” and so many other excellent stories. Miss Mulholland’s story deals with the adventures of three very charming girls, Patricia, Dympna and Finola, who, living in genteel poverty in London migrate under rather odd circumstauces to a castle in the West of Ireland. They belong to a branch of the “ould family,” and are made heartily welcome by the peasants, from whom they learn many quaint and curious stories based upon the folk lore of the district. There is an ihterestin'g plot

running through the story, which is told in a very fascinating way, and charms the reader incidentally by some very clever mingling of Irish humour and pathos. The ending is a happy one, but the three girls are most delightful characters throughout, and one feels quite sorry when one has to part company with them, albeit we have met them only in fiction. With its olive green cover and artistic design this is a pleasant book to look at. It is still more pleasant to read. Mr Baring Gould is, as we have previously remarked in the columns of the Mail, the most versatile of writers. Nothing seems to come amiss to him. He is a novelist, a historian, an antiquarian and a theologian, but whatever he writes has a cachet of its own and he is never dull. In “Gretfir the Outlaw,” a story of Iceland, he challenges comparison with Mr Hall Caine, and comes nut of the ordeal very well. It is a story of adventure of the most exciting and romantic description, and at the same time it affords a most interesting and carefully wrought out account of the old Icelandic families, and the manners and customs of a very curious race. As for fighting, it outHaggards Mr Haggard. The redoubtable Allan Quartermain and the equally redoubtable Sir Henry Curtis never had more thrilling experiences than the fight of the gallant Grettir with the twelve berserks and the wrestling of the hero with Karl the Old in the chamber of the dead, the combat with the spirit of Glam the thrall, and the defence of the dying Grettir by his younger brother There is a fieshness, an originality about the story, and a simple clearness of diction which remind the reader of Defoe. Give a boy this book and we’ll warrant him remaining as mum as a mute until the last page has been devoured. And for those who know what plagues holidaykeeping lads can be, this points its own moral to parents —buy the book. For the “ wee kiddies,” Messrs Blackie and Son cater very happily and very sensibly in a series of prettily-printed little books with limp cloth covers, the English price of which is only twopence each. The sample copies we have received include five or six excellent short stories printed in bold big clear type, each with an attractively - designed cover and a pretty little frontispiece. As to the stories themselves, they are free from nambypambyisin, and are just the sort of tales in which children of, say, five to seven will take special delight. MESSRS WARD, LOCK AND BOWDEN (London and Melbourne). “The Little Larrikin,” by Ethel Turner. “ Titus, a Comrade of the Cross ” by F. M. Kingsley. Miss Ethel Turner’s previously published books, “Seven Little Australians,” and “ The Family at Misrule,” have won her a weldeserved celebrity with that large section of the reading public which takes delight in good, wholesome, amusing stories dealing principally with child life. Her latest book, “ The Little Larrikin ”—Lol, otherwise Lawrence and “ Larne,” is a delightfully precocious and misch:evous little fellow, the youngest of a small family who are dependent upon the earnings of a their eldest brother, a struggling young barrister. Lol is by no means a larrikin of the traditional and ultra-objectionable Australian stamp, but a most charming young scapegrace, at whoso escapades it is impossible nor to laugh. The elder brother, Roger, is a fine fellow, and his love passages with his sweet young fiancee Lin ley are most gracefully described. There is a good deal of romance in the courtship of these two, and the path of true lore in their case, as in that of so many other lovers since Cupid shot his first arrow, docs not always run too smoothly. But the story ends very happily, although we could wish Miss Turner had shown more originality than to utilise the now stale device of a fortune made in ten days or so at Coolgardie bringing the lovers out of their difficulties. Roger is a line character all through, and Linley’s worldly, fashionable, married sister and her palient, long-suffering husband are both drawn with a firm, practised hand. There are heaps of fun in the book and heaps of love-making, and although the pathetic element is not lacking, everything ends very happily and very agreeablv for all concerned. “ A Little Larrikin"” is an ideal book for family and holiday reading. It is well illustrated and handsomely bound. Our copy reaches us through Messrs S. and W. Mackay, Wellington.

A literary feature of the day is the popularity of what might, tor want of a better name, bo called the Scriptural novel. Of this class of work Miss Kingsley’s story is one of the most meritorious specimens that we have seen. The object of the writer, a young American lady, is to present the life of Jesus upon, earth in such a way “ as to give a fresh interest to the/ Old old story ; to bring the Jesus of u'early nineteen, con-

turies ago into our lives to-day—a real, a loving Jesus, as tender as loving, as thoughtful of His children who are on earth to-day as He was with the dwellers in Palestine.” This task has been admirably fulfilled by the author, the book being written in sucb a manner as to rivet the attention of the reader from the very first chapter, and to keep it fully engaged until the last page is reached. Titus, the hero of the story, is pictured by Miss Kingsley as being the penitent thief, and as the son of Caiaphas the High Priest, Miss Kingoley alleges that there is traditional evidence to justify this, but whether that be the case or not, she has certainly produced a very beautiful and touchingly pathetic story, the lessons to be learned from which are fully in accordance with the Christian faith. The “ local colour ” of the book is excellent, and none the less so in as that the author admits, it is very largely based upon the writings of such authorities on tho Holy Land as Drs Geikie and Eiderheim, Dean Farrar and others. Miss Kingley’s story has had an enormous vogue in tho United States, where ovor a million copies are said to have been sold. In England also it is now enjoying a xvidespread popularity, the Times devoting along article of favourable allusion to its merits, and pronouncing it in conclusion to be a “ work which, closely following Scriptural lines, shows great constructive talent, and is-written throughout in a charming style.” With its tasteful cover and high-class illustrations “ A Comrade of the Cross ” will be a most suitable Christmas present. We have received our copy through Messrs S. and W. Mackay } Wellington. MESSRS LONGMANS AND CO. (London). “ The Heart of the Princess Osra,” by Anthony Hope. All who have read Mr Anthony Hope’s “ Prisoner of Zenda ” —and who that reads novels has not —will welcome this new book by Mr Hope, a copy of which has been sent us by Messrs Longmans and Co., London. There are nine stories in this collection, the Princess Osra, one of Mr Hope’s most charming heroines, being a central figure in each. Where all are good alike we ought not to make any special choice of a favourite, although we confess that the sly humour in the chapter headed “The Indifference of the Miller of Hofban ” pleasad us more than anything in the others. The suitors of the fair Princess include all sorts and conditions of men, and the history of their various suits, their rivalries and jealeusies, is told with a vivacity of style which is distinctly agreeable. The volume is one of Messrs Longmans’ Colonial Library, and is embellished with nine excellent illustrations by Mr John Williamson. “ The Princess Osra" will, we make bold to say, win the hearts of many readers in these colonies during the coming holiday season.

MESSRS GEORGE BELL AND SONS (London).

“ Black Diamonds,” by Dr Maurus Jokai. This is the latest volume of that admirable collection, Messrs George Bell and Sons’ Indian and Colonial Library. The author, Dr Jokai, is a Hungarian writer whose earlier novels, “ Eyes Like the Sea” and “Midst the Wild Carpathians ” have Avon great favour with English readers. The hero of Dr Jokai’s latest no\ufi is Ivan Bebrond. the owner of the Honda vara Coalmine. lie i-s a sort of “ Admirable Crichton” —engineer, chemist, scientist, philanthropist and social reformer, and it is with the story of his enterprises, his loves, his disappointments and despair and In’s ultimate success and happiness that the story deals. The author has evidently made a special study of coalmining, and his mining technicalities are, apparently at any rate, as carefully and faithfully worked up as those in Zola’s famous novel “Germinal,” which dealt with life in and about the great Anzin colleries in the north of France. Ivan Behrend discovers a successful means of fighting the deadly choke damp, and in other ways the novelist avails himself of the license of presenting fiction as truth, but this Hungarian mine-owner, honestly, attached to his mine and his workers, a strong man in love, a man who has to fight against unscrupulous enemies, is a much more amiable and wholesome character than the bestial creatures of Zola’s book. A little hysterical in style in certain places, there is a “ go ” about this book of Dr Jokai’s which Avill win for it many admirers. The heroine, a girl worker in the mine, who becomes a great prima donna, is a charming creature, and on the other hand the character of the “ man-eater,” Peter Saff ran, who diabolically attempts to ruin the mine and sacrifice hundreds of lives, is as “ uncanny ” and Aveirdly dramatic a creation as can be found in modern fiction. Our copy of “ Black Diamonds,” reaches us through Messrs. Whittakhr Brcfe. Lambton Quay.

MESSRS ANGUS AND ROBERTSON, Sydney.

An Emigrant’s Home Letters, ” by Henry Parkes. This is a book which deserves to have a very large circulation. The late Sir Henry Parkes was for over half a century a leading figure in Australian politics and the letters in which he tells of his early , struggles, failures and successes, his simple pleasures and honest ambitions are of the Ihighest possible interest to those who find pleasure in reading the personal history of a man who has a right to be considered one of the makers of the Empire. The volume contains letters written by Henry Parkes to his sister Sarah, in England, during the years 1838 to 1843, that is tc say in the years closely preceding and following his emigration to Australia. It is a pathetic story which these letters tell, a story of great privations, of poverty cheerfully endured, lightened as it was by the hopes of better things to come in the new land which even then was so full of promise to the obscure ivory turner, destined by fate to rise to the premiership of the mother colony of Australia and to be one of the foremost and most dominant political personalities in the great southern continent. As a rule they are full of a very serious spirit, the spirit of a man who recognises that hard as have been his struggles in London, the earlier years of his colonial life will be no rose strewn path. He is rarely down-hearted, and indeed at times betrays a decided optimism ; he gossips to his sister quite cheerfully of the small worries of the long voyage, and even although he admits to having had a feeling of discouragement in landing, he grapples with the difficulties of his position with a cheery, manly courage which augured well for the future. The most salient and most pleasant feature in all these letters is the deep and fervent love of the writer for his parents, especially for his mother. The following extract shows the future statesman in a very amiable

light:—“ Poor dear mother ! How good a mother she has been to me ! How glad when I have been successful in any little undertaking ! How desirous to help me when I have been in any little difficulty! Oh! how happy I have been in that little old home in Moseley street, after my day’s work was done at the brickyard, as I ha ve sat by the fire in rny clayey clothes and she took my hand and held in her’s, and told me parts of Robinson Crusoe to while away the dull hours till you came home from Attsop’s ! Yes, I was happy then, though dear father was lying in a distant debtor’s prison. Beloved father and mother, I feel as if they were already in their graves. A father and mother bowed down with years of affliction and steeped in poverty and wretchedness. The very thought seems to make me unhappy for ever, when I know that half the circumference of the globe will shortly lie between us. Farewell, my father and mother —my fond, affectionate parents. God Almighty bless them, and provide for their few remaining years better than I can hope they will be provided for. May they be daily surprised with comforts, •"and may floods of unexpected joy continually descend into their hearts !” The preface and notes accompanying these most interesting letters are from the pen of Sir Henry’s daughter, Annie T. Parkes. She says *. —“ I believe that the name of Henry Parkes will yet be deir to every patriotic son of Federated Australia, and that all concerning him will be very precious in their eyes. The mistakes, the errors and the failures of the last years of his life will be wiped away, as one would brush dust from a beloved dead face. Who that is just will judge of him by the years between 70 and 80. No ! By the glorious aims, by the high hopes, by the great achievements, and the ringing eloquence of his grand manhood will he be judged. .Arid when Australasia takes her place among the great nations of the world hie name will be inscribed in the golden annals of her history. And the very best of her sons may learn a lesson from his wondrous life, a lesson of high-souled courage, patient endurance and marvellous perseverance. 1 send forth these pages to tell their simple story of how in spite of bitter poverty, much hardship and utter want of educacation, Henry Parkes fought his way to everlasting fame.” The book is beautifully printed and tastefully bound, and should find .a place on the shelves of all who can admire a great statesman whose faults wore greatly overshadowed by his long and arduous services to his fellow-colonists.

METHUEN & CO

(London)

“A Home in Inyeresk,” by J. L. Paton. “ A Home in Inveresk ” is a story of life in a country district in Scotland, and, later on, in British Columbia. Husband and wife part for a time through the discovery by the latter of a pre-marital amour of the former and its consequences. The husband, who is a good follow at bottom though self-indulgent and weak, goes away to British Columbia and works in, a ' saw-mill. Thence, after a time, his wife seeks him out and there is a reconciliation, not, however, until on her side there has Mbeen some danger of the separation being Blaade permanent, a friend of her husI band’s, who had accompanied her to I America, to assist her in _ her_ search, p actively urging her to relinquish her " search and fly with him. A buggy accident which occurs at a somewhat crucial moment prevents the possibility of the wife renouncing her husband, and all ends happily. I; The Scotch scenes are very well done, the % character of a mean hypocritical “ elder ” who betrays the secret of the husband’s early misdemeanour being particularly well drawn. But the story as a whole is not fully equal m merit to previous issues in Messrs Methuen’s Colonial Library, of which it is a late volume. Our copy is sent us by the publishers through MbEsrs wstatf# BWf& W &ty.

MR. FISHER UNWIN (London.) > “ His Native Wiee,” by. Louis Becke. Mr Fisher Unwin’s “Century Library,” of which we now receive a specimen volume in the chape of Mr Louis Becke’s story “His Native Wife,” is a very tastefully got up and attractive series, well printed on rough antique paper with a cover design of highly original style. Mr Louis Becke, the author of “ His Native Wife,” is a writer who has of late come rapidly to the front, his pictures of life in the South Sea Islands, of the loves of the white man and brown woman being strikingly realistic. “ His Native Wife” is a sensational story, introducing pictures of “ Island ” manners and customs which bear upon their face the hall-mark of undeniable truth and power. Mr Becke has erred a trifle, it may be said, on the side of brutality, in his descriptions of the more tragic to be found in the Island romances which he is the narrator, but the freshness of his local colour, the fidelity with which he deals with the rough and ready morality, or lack of morality, in those lovely isles of which we have heard and read so much render it impossible for the reader to put down the book until the denouement is reached. “ His Native Wife ”is a brilliant bit of work in which pathos, dry humour, and grim tragedy are artistically blended and which will be eagerly devoured by all who admired Mr Becke’s first collected stories, published under the title of “ By Reef and Palm.” A charming little etching of the heroine forms an artistic and attractive frontispiece.

MESSRS MACMILLAN & Co (London.)

“ Sir George Tressady,” by Mrs Humphrey Ward.

One of the latest published volumes in Macmillan’s Colonial Library and one which will be eagerly sought after by admirers of “Robert Elsmere” and “Marcella,” is Mrs Humphrey Ward’s story “Sir George Tressady.” It deals with political life in the Old Country, and our old friend Marcella, now introduced to us as Lady Maxwell, a lady of great influence in the world of politics and parliament, is again a leading character. The nominal hero, “ a man of no profession and no enthusiasm,” is a clever study of a type common enough in England. The husband of a lady who is a clog upon his public career and the son of a lady whose social and pecuniary extravagances are also strong factors to his detriment, Sir George Tressady is marked out by fortune for misfortune, and indeed, disaster. The good in the man, however, comes out uppermost and all readers of the story will regret his untimely end, which comes while endeavouring to rescue his entombed workers —he is a colliery owner —after an explosion in his mine. There are many fine passages in the book, to which we regret being unable to give a more lengthy notice, our copy arriving (through S. and W. Mackay) just as the Xmas Mail is going to press.

Charles Wilson.