NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 23

NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS

SENSATIONAL. AND ENTERTAINING fiction “The Key of Paradise.” By Sidney Pickering. Edward Arnold, Lon- , don. W hrtcombe and Tombs, Wellington. This is one of the most sensational 6emi-histocriCs.il stories that we have reaa for sotino ' “Giiiie. ' The soon© is* laid in Italy v in the early days of last oentury. Then'that fair -country was exposed to y the assaults of the enemy from without and at the mercy of the traitor within. Mr Piokermg has given us-a romance of love, hate, jealousy, interwoven with political intrigue and war itself. The story is exo.tu.g, and its inteiest never flags. Our author has not previously conceived and written a more realistic or striking] romance. “Mr Page’s Wild Oats.” By Charles "Eddy. Edwaird Arnold. London. Whitcombe and Tombs, W ellington It does sometimes happen that a man of forty-five begins to sow his wild oats. Mr Page was a plaljn, retiring, ordinary mortal before he departed from the path of rectitude. Ho ptissed his clays in the city and his, evenings in a pleasant villa in the suburbs until in rankle hfe a new fascination seized him. Into l the life -of a new world Mr Page entered with speed and determination. The characters he meets are oleverly drawn, and the dialogue is smart and well sustained. We have a phase of modern city life powerfully depicted, yet the author displays masterful tact and discretion ii. the writing of his book, which will he regarded as a novel with a purpose that - wise parents will appreciate. “My Poor Relations.” By; Maarten Maairtens. Constable 'and Go., London. " J. W. Davidson, Wellington. The work of Mi’ Maartens is too- wellknown to need commendation at our hands. His stories present to ns viyid pictures of life among Dutch peasantry, and the perusal of these short stone* under the title quoted will convince those who do not known anything of our author’s work that lie displays all the power and genius of a master. There is the powerfully dramatic story, the ter- \ ribly realistic psychological narrative, and; the sketch full of exquisite feeling and human interest. In all these Mr Maartens plays upon the susceptibilities of his readers and absorbs their attention.

“The Triumph of Jill.” By F. !**. Young. -John Long, London. J. W. Davidson, Wellington. This story possesses a natural charm. It lis bright, entertaining and unaffected. Jill is an artist. She has one pupil, and daring the opposition of his people, this pupil determines to many her. Jill has many trials and vicissitudes in the course of her married life, but she overcomes and survives them all. The tone of this novel is wholesome and the author has 'to be congratulated' upon the success of her first effort in book form. “An Act of Impulse.” By Helen Bayliss. Greening and Co., London. Whitcom.be and Tombs, Wellington. Miss Bayliss has written little that is more interesting and absorbing than “An Act of Impulse.” In the opening chapter Dr Manby is found dead sitting in his chaiir. He is wealthy, and fool play is suspected. His nephew, Francis Yorke, is his heir, and he being the second person to see his uncle after death discovers a will in favour of one Lucinda Maunders. This York© - destroys, and the family lawyer announces the existence of two wills, one in favour of Francis and the other gives Lucinda a half interest in the estate, and divides v ten thousand pounds betweien Lucinda’s blather and Dr. Sdholfield, a complex character. The mystery about Dr. Manby’s 'd'eatlh.. and the reason why the should favour Miss Maunders is not disclosed till the-concluding pages to which the interest is fully maintained.

“Devastation.” By Oonlson Kemahan. John Long, London. 3. W. Davidson, Wellington.

Sir Peroival Wentworth is the hero of Mrs Kernahan’s latest story. He is a wicked' baronet. He throws his wife* into; a pond! for the purpose of drowning her in order that he might marry a younger woman. But his wife jnanages to crawl out, and between two women Sir Peroival had so bad a time

that “he took his hat and strode out into the night.” Mrs Kernahan has done much better work, but it is melodrama and will command many readers.

'The - Young Geraude.” " By Edmund White. Blackwood and Son, Edinburgh. Whitcombe and Tombs, Wellington. Under this title'we have the exciting adventures of a young Englishman in Berlin in the middle of last century. Mr Geraude is an agreeable character, young and! good-looking. He falls in love with a young lady who considers she has a mission on the stage,and thinks that marriage would hamper her career. So Young Geraude leave® her, bidding her good-bye in an affectionate note, the reading of which sent the young woman into a faint. We need not spoil the pleaeiureableness of this commendable story by telling more of its purpose.