A BOOK FOR “BRITHER SCOTS.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5802, 20 January 1906, Page 16

A BOOK FOR “BRITHER SCOTS.”

• The King's Friend; A Tale of tlie Scottish War- of Independence.” By Dug.iid F-uguson, author of “Bush L.i' . ‘ “Poems,” etc. Published by Alex. Gardner. Paisley. We have here something new in the litivary field in an histor.c romance of many centuries ago, written by a colonist oi tile Newest-Britain beyond the -i- as.—a picture of stem and stirring tinuvi when English and Soots were constantly at war, the pointing of which has been done under sunny southern skies, in times of profound peace and growing brotherhood. Tho King's Friend, around whose fortunes the tale revolves, ts Sir Ackibald Sinclair, a brave knight who joins the national cause under Wallace, follows the fortunes-. of tluit'hero until ln.> betrayal and death, and afterwards serves under Robert tin- Bruce. The action of the romance covers a stirring time in British history—a time momentous alike to England and Scotland, for during it were laid tho foundations of that national independence which enabled the Northern Kingdom at. a later date to enter into union with England on terms of equality. -Mr Ferguson treats us to stirring word-pictures of the battles of Kirkmiehael, Dairy, Melliven Wood, Bridge of Deo, Bannockburn and Halidjn Mill, and gives vivid pictures of Wallace, Brncc and other noted men of the. time. 'The micros! never Hags through the four hundred odd pages, and the story lias an air of realism that curries the reader along just as the author desires. The historical romances of Scott have evidently been Mr Ferguson’s model, and though “The King's Friend" cannot he classed with the masterpieces of the Wizard of tho North, it is a tiuly notable book to have been written by a Now Zealand Scot, labouring under educational disadvantages, but more than making up for those hy his industry, research, historical faithfulness. as well .is by his native ability. Mr Ferguson's “brillier Scots” in Otago and iu other parts of New Zealand cannot well afford to be Without this narrative of their country's heroic ago. Even English people may with profit reed 1 Ike times depicted iu this look ami he thankful, as the author says, ‘‘for bo.se m.ghty ones to whose achievements is owed the fact that the inhabitants of Great Britain arc now a homogeneous people, instead of two diverse races insecurely bound to each other hy moans of coercion m Scotland.” It is a compliment to Air Ferguson that his romance was accepted for publication by Air Alex. Gardner, of Paisley (publisher hy appointment to tho late Queen Victoria), who issues a largo number of •vorks dealing especially with Scots liKtory, song and folk-lore.