THE NEWEST NOVELS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 7

THE NEWEST NOVELS.

Mr R-obert- Chambers's new novel opens with a tantalising situation in which a divorced man, whose wife lias remarried and .is ill-treated by her new husband, falls in lovo-'with a beautiful girl. It is a problem novel .which makes the reader wonder how,, the ant-lwr can solve the tanglo with a- hero of strict- scruples. The' American reviewers aro indulging in much jgenial banter of Mr Richard Harding Davis's romance, '."fie ScarletGar," which has just- appeared. They agree tlr.i-t it was inevitable that-. Mr Davis should write a br«ok of fiction around- the automobile. The author introduces plenty of dash in tlni romance, evidently writing after pleasantly exciting motor-car jourlicvis taken bv himself.

Messrs Constable announce for early publication "Nicolettc," by .Evelyn Sharp, and "A Walking Gentleman," -by James Prior. "S'icolette" is Miss Sharp's second long .rovel, and must- not be confoundcd with her stories for girls.

Sir Stanley Wevman's new novel will be entitled "The Wild Geese," It deals with the adventures of Colonel John' Snllivan, whom we meet in tho first, chapter on board tho sloop Cormorant on liis way to Ireland. The period is the reign.of George I,' and tho plot is of absorbing interest. The story will be commenced in the Woman at Home for October,'and will thereafter be published in book form by Messrs liodder and Stoughton. A book dealing with life in South Afrioa. —in this case frontier life in South-east Africa —is to be published very soon by Messrs Constable. Entitled "Marcus Hay," and written by Stanley P. Hyatt, it promises to give a vivid picture of the native races, their tribal feuds, and strange superstitions. The author is well qualified to write on this subject, for ho has spent many years in this part of' Africa as engineer, transport- rider, trader, and labour agent, and has acquired a wide knowledge of native, life and customs. With his brother, Mr Hyatt explored the great -unknown tract round the Sabi River, and penetrated districts never before visited by white men. He has been a' frequent, contributor to the press, and at the outbreak of the "Pulajan" revolt in the Philippines acted as special correspondent-' to several 4i>ttrican papers. . The forthcoming books in Messrs Hod-, dor and StoughWs Colonial! Library includo "The King's Messenger," Mr Frankfort- Moore's- new historical romance, and certainly one of the most-brilliant lie has ever written; which may best bo described as John Wesley's love-story.' But while the silver thread of this remarkable lovestory—it- is paralleled in t-lio,autlwr's writings only, in "The Jcssamy, Bride"—runs through the, book, some of its strongest elements are to be found in the vivid descriptions given by Mr Frankfort. Moore of the effect of the first great evangelistic tour of John Wesley in the South-west of England, which gave Methodism a footing in the Delectable Duchy that it lias not yetlost-. Nothing could be more appreciative of the great work done at that, time in rousing tho people from their spiritual lethargy than are the chapters of this book', deailing with t-lie mission and missioner,

"Saints in Society," the story that won the £100 prize offered last year for the best novel by a new writer, introduced to the public an author of rich and unusual gifts. Mis Bfliillio Saunders is the wife of a. popular West End preacher, and, unliko many writers of "novels of to-day, l is. well acquainted with society and society's doings. She does not join in the general attack on the alleged misdemeanours of the smart set, but seeks to show that underneath much that is unreal and superficial there is, as elsewhere, the continual struggle after higher and nobler things. As becomes a society novel, "A Shepherd l of Society" is smart and bright and full of clever and sparkling dialogue: at the same time it is of distinot religious interest. Mrs Baillie Saunders is doing for the Church of England what Miss Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler has done for Nonconformity and society, and in many respects, though not in all, for indeed Mrs Baillio Saunders's work displays marked Individuality, these two writers have much in common. The charm and strength of her new book lies in its delightful humour, its clever portrayal of life in high circles, and the fact that it "gees." Mr Mor.ice Gerard has won for himself a. foremost place among the very few writers who can make 'history live again and awake intense interest. He has been likened both to sSton'ey Wcyman and to Seton Merriman, but his style is liis own. "Rose of Blenheim" will "take its place worthily with iis prcd'ecessons. Its interest, is intense and absorbing; its action dramatic'; and its conclusion all that reader can desire. Rose herself, the central figure, and 1 Lord Godfrey Latour, the hero of the romance, captivate from the outset : fine characters, living, taking their place worthily in a great drama, set in a picturesque frame; while history moves ■ forward to one of the greatest, victories in the annals of the race and of the world. .Marlborough- 'himself figures, in these pages, and the writer of "The Adventures of an Equerry," "Check- to the King," and ."Rose of Blenheim" has set himself to show that John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, had another side from the dark pictiuio presented of him elsewhere. "Koso of Ble.nlroim" is full of excitement from the first page to the last.