SOUTH SEAS ROMANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 78

SOUTH SEAS ROMANCE.

“ The Sea of Sleep.” By Alfred Gordon Bennett. (Cloth, 7s Gd net.) London: T. Fisher Unwin. This is a romantic and highly* coloured story, with much picturesque description, abundant sensational incidents, and a blend of mysticism as an additional element of interest. Characterisation is not Mr Gordon Bennett’s forte, and there are many crudities in the construction of the story, but the most obvious defect is the extreme turgiditv of the author’s style. The descriptions are laboured, and the characters are prone to indulge in “ highfalutin’ ” language, which might be accepted from the two central characters, but is out of keeping when met with from other personages of the story. And Mr Bennett is fond of interlarding his descriptions with foreign terms as “ genre,” “ outre,” “ svelte,” and many more. The story opens effectively with the arrival of young Alan MacKinnon in the ketch he sails single-handed at the tiny atoll where Tremlett has sought refuge. Alan is a writer of plays, and is voyaging in search of adventure and literary material; Tremlett is an artist whose unhappy experience in love has made him misanthropical, and he is fast “ going native ” with drink and a pretty native girl to fill in his vacant existence and drown bitter memories. The stimulus of Alan’s companionship revives the artist in Tremlett, and the two go together to the nearest settled' island (Quires), which is the beginning of exciting experience for both. Alan frrtTs passionately in love with Tnora, the exquisitely beautif-1 young daughter of a Swedish trader, who is coveted by the ah'.ei villain of the story, the Dutchman von Nordheim, a wealthy planter and local financial magnate, Business takes Tremlett and Alan to Papeete, dnd thither fate brings the woman who has spoiled Tremlett’s life, the beautiful Cynthia Frohraan, who is travelling with the American film king, Chalmers, another villain of sordid character, through whom Cynthia has become a drug fiend. A complicated series of intrigues and adventures follows, in which kidnapping, drugging, attempted murders, sea perils and shipwreck provide exciting scenes. Finally the way is cleared for the happiness of Alan and Thora, while Cynthia, dying, is reconciled to Tremlett. Thereafter Tremlett sails out alone over the ocean, bound for a port beyond the bourne of space and time where earth’s incompleteness may find fulfilment.