LITERATURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 54

LITERATURE.

BOOK NOTICES. SOME POPULAR REPRINTS. Messrs Murray’s recently published twoshilling' reprints contain several popular classics. Among them are E. Anatey's “Y'iee Versa” and ‘‘the lallen Idol. ' it wats the former story, published some time in the eighties, tnat made Mr Anstey famous. i\one of its successors, whether fantasias or novels of real life, so hit the public taste as tills story of a somewhat pompous middle-aged father transformed into the likeness of his schoolboy son. "Mr Bultitude” very speedily revised his estimate of the good times enjoyed by schoolboys! But the test of comparative felicities of boyhood and manhood was not a fair one, inasmuch as the unlucky parent retained his whole grown-up mental personality, while perforce having to undergo the treatment oi a young schoolboy. It is this incongruous union of middle-aged mind and habits with boyish form tnat gives scope for Mr Anstey’s humour and makes the story so exceedingly amusing. Those who have not yet read it have a treat awaiting them. “The Fallen Idol” is another fantastic story, very clever, though the plot does not make the same appeal to human experience. Two of H. Seton Merriman’s novels are also just out in this series, “The Sowers” and “The Grey Lady.” Merriman was one of the finest writers of the latter part of last century. His novels are equally fine from the point of view of plot, characterisation, literary style, tone, and taste. He was a most conscientious workman, taking great pains to attain accuracy in the setting of his novels. Many of these are staged, either wholly or partly, in foreign countries. Thus “Barlasch of the Guards” deals with the Napoleonic wars, particularly with Xaijoleon’s unfortunate expedition into Russia; much of the action of “With Edged Tools” takes place in tropical Africa, and “The Sowers” is an excellent study of Russia under the rule of the father of the unfortunate Nicholas. Scarcely any writer of the present day combines so many excellences in such a high degree as H. S. Merriman. Sir A. Conan Doyle’s present fame as a propagandist of spiritualism will lend new interest to his fiction, and the re-issue by Messrs Murray of his first novel “Rodney Stone” is well timed. It is interesting for its lifelike presentments of some English statesmen of bygone days, and has plenty of picturesque incident. Two other deservedly popular stories are “The Honourable Molly” (Mrs Tynan) and “Phyllis” (Mrs Hungcrford). These are now published by Messrs Murray in one-shilling editions. “Bulldog Drummond” is the title of a new novel by Cyril M'Niele (“Sapper”), recently published by Messrs Hodtier and Stoughton. The book is one of adventure, hinging on a plot to bring about the destruction of tile Empire by Bolshevism, and a love interest is interwoven. The novel has been Highly praised by Home reviewers. Few writers please a wider public than the Baronees Ore zy, who has given the reading world a long series of romantic tales since she achieved fame with “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” A new one, “The First Sir Percy,” is now issued by Messrs Hodder and Stoughton. Its scene is laid in Holland in the early seventeenth century, when the Dutch were still engaged in the long struggle with Spain for the freedom of their land begun before the days of the Armada. Maurice, eon of the first great Prince of Orange, William the Silent, was Stadtholder, and, like his father was constantly menaced by assassination and the subtle art of the poisoner. The story deals with but a few months of the struggle, but we are shown a good deal of the relentless warfare of the times; towns looted and inhabitants massacred by. the Spaniards when the fluctuating fortunes of the contest gave them the upper hand. The story, however, is mainly occupied with the fortunes of a small group of persons, one of them the “first Sir Percy”—Percy Blakeny of England, who has enlisted as an unknown soldier in the Dutch ranks. An early chapter shows us a double wedding at the house of the Burgomaster of Amersfoort, his only daughter, Gilda, marrying Sir Percy, or “Diogenes,” to give him the name under which he is known to his fighting comrades, while his son marries the daughter of a wealthy merchant. The wedding festivities are' interrupted by menacing tidings, and Sir Percy, who is represented to us as the original of Frans Hal’s celebrated picture, “The Laughing Cavalier,” leaves his new-made bride to undertake an important commission. Then we are carried through a labyrinth of plot and counter-plot. The arch-plotter and villain, Stoutenburg, is for a time victorious. Sir Percy passes through perils on perils, and is nearly perishing at the hands of his friends, who have been made to believe him guilty of treachery. The lovely and heroic Gilda is even more sorely tried, having to choose between consigning her husband to the gallows and her countrymen to massacre or accepting the suit of ihe villain Stoutenburg. But the Baroness Orczy knows well that the majority of novel readers prefer a happy ending.