SOME REPRINTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19009, 3 November 1923, Page 4

SOME REPRINTS.

A SOUND SELECTION. While new novels keep up theii; price, and, in place of the pre-war colonial edition at 3a 6d, are now offered in an overseas edition at 6s —tlie equivalent English edition is priced"at 7s 6d net —there is always available a sound selection of reprint novels which for the majority of readers 'are as good as new. A parcel of strongly-bound, well-printed, and attractively “jacketted” reprint novels, (o hand from the firm of John Long, includes a number of readable stories which wifi come an a pleasant surprise to lovers of light literature. In "i ho Literary Renaissance in America” Mi- G. K Bechhofer says of Mr Upton Sinclair that he is “without honour in his own country, but without being a groat writer he is at least a courageous and original one. ... If Mr Sinclair cannot be claimed for the American renaissance, some credit must nevertheless be given him for having made it possible.” Mr Sinclair is the author of half a dozen or more sociological novels which he has used unblushingly for propagandist work, and of these “Samuel the Seeker,” first issued eight or more years ago, is one of the least unpleasant and most readable. In the present popular form the story will enable a wider circle of readers to follow the adventures of the unfortunate Samuel in bis struggles against what, the author regards us the tyrannies of present-day civilisation. Mr Percy Janies Brehner has been writing novels for the last 15 or 16 years, and “the Gate of Temptation,” now issued as a reprint, is quite a new book, published originally in 1920. It is melodrama of quito a good sort, enclosing one Madame Rocara, who, hypnotised by an English _ husband, is involved in a series of mysterious murders. How. Eslollc Bocara, who, of course, is very beautiful, is aided and rescued by Dr Bruce Oliver, forms the burden of the story. The reader who perseveres to the end of this book may roly on a number of genuine thrills. Curtis Yorke, who in real life is Mrs Richmond Lee, is a prolific winter, with scores ot stories to her credit, all of them nice, none of them nasty, and always -interesting in a sentimental sort of way. The Girl and the Man” was first published ni 1906. and the title explains the story. 'Phere is a girl and there is a man, and no3more needs to be said. “Mist in the Valley,” by Doron Craig, is described as “the novel of the famous film.” which to patrons of the picture theatres is sufficient introduction. A publisher’s note states; “This novel has been produced as a film under the supervision of Mr Cecil M. Hcpworth for Hepworth Picture Plays (1622), Ltd., and is now showing throughout the leading cinemas of the world.” There are therefore two inducements to rend this book. If you have seen the film refresh your memory with the book: if not, get ready for the coming of the film by studying tho_ story. _ .. It seems a long time since Miss Marjorie Bowen created a sensation with “The Viper of Milan,” following her first success with “The Glen of Weeping.” The latter book, which cast into story form the tragedy of Glencoe, has always been a favourite, and its re issue in popular form should introduce it to a new generation of readers. “Love’s Fool,” first published in 1908. was the novel with which Mr s Stanley Wrench made her literary debut, and although she has written several more stories she has never bettered her first attempt. Its appearance in 2s net form should give the book a new lease of life.