RAPID REVIEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19033, 1 December 1923, Page 4

RAPID REVIEWS.

“The Barbarian Lover,” by Margaret Podler (Hoddcr and Stoughton), possesses exactly those qualities which i constitute a popular story. The scene opens in India, and afterwards shifts to England, and in both lands the right atmosphere is created and preserved. The interest centres around Patricia Lultrell, daughter of the Indian Commissioner at Coomara, but the sudden death of her father necessitates Patricia s return to the Homeland. Attached unofficially to the Commissioner’s staff is Kerry Lorimor, whose intimate acquaintance with the habits and customs of the natives makes his secret services of groat value: Kerry is commonly known as the Commissioner’s mystery man. During a tiger hunt Kerry saves Patricia’s life, and the stag© is set for the subsequent romance. On her father’s death Patricia goes Home to live with her godfather. Lord Marchdale, and learns to her surprise that Kerry is tile disinherited heir to the Marchdale estate, and Patricia sets eagerly to work to clear the name and fame of the man she loves. There is another aspirant to Patricia’s hand and heart in the person of Mark Stroun, and for a while complications ensue. The story ends, however, quite according to the best tradition, and the reader will be thoroughly satisfied with the denouement. “Mid-winter,” by John Buchan (Hodder and Stoughton) is a stirring romance of the days of the young Pretender, and which places the supporters of the Stuart dynasty in pleasant contrast to the Hanoverian usurpers. While many of the characters are of Scottish nationality, the scene of the story is laid in England. 'Apart from its historic interest, Mr Buchan skilfully creates a fresh feature by the introduction of one Samuel Johnson, afterwards the famous dictionary maker, as an ardent Jacobite in the clays of his youth It appears that there were several yeans in Dr Johnson’s life over which a veil of obscurity has been cast, and Mr Buchan attempts to pierce the veil. The result is a well-told story which, while it illustrates the versatility of the novelist, cannot fail to give satisfaction to the reader. “ Figures of Earth,” by James Branch Cabell (John Lane), is an early work by the author of “Jurgen” for which a demand has been created by curiosity conceming the later and better-known story. Mr Cabell has steeped himself in medieval l ism, and he introduces his readers into realms remote altogether from present-day ideas and customs. By the exercise of a rare gift of satire, which knows no restnetion and acknowledges no bounds. Mr Cabell creates a medieval champion and utilises him to caricature much of modern civilisation. “Figures of E arth” can never be a popular story, it calls for intellectual effort if the purpose of the writer is to lie r anted and understood, Headers on the look out for brilliant writing, mysterious lore, and satirical humour should derive much pleasure from a perusal of “ The Figures of Earth.” “ Wave-lengths.” by E. IT. Lacon Watson (Mills and Boon) is an account, capitally told, of Cvnthia Landale from the time she met “The Man in the Train” to the happy ending to the accompaniment of orange blossoms in Walcote Church. There were times when the multiplicity of Cynthia’s .love affairs constituted a positive embarrassment, but by skilful steering she was able to rOoch the goal of her desire. It is a simple story, vivaciously told.