ADVENTURE IN SCOTLAND

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 14

ADVENTURE IN SCOTLAND

Romantic Fiction By Popular Writers

AND NO QUARTER. By Maurice Walsh. W. and R. Chambers Ltd., London, through , Whitcombe and Tombs. Price 7s 6ci.

THE ADVENTURES OF DICKSON McCUNN. By John Buchan. Hodder and Stoughton, London, through W. S. Smart. Price 7s 6d net.

This reviewer still remembers the pleased surprise with which he discovered Maurice Walsh’s first novel, “The Key Above the Door.” That was nearly 10 years ago, and since then the . author has kept to his own standard of writing and gained a loyal company of readers. His latest book is a fine, rousing tale with a skirl of the pipes in it, and the Scottish hills for its scenes of robust action. The hero is one Martin Somers, surgeon and “adjutant of women” in O’Cahan s Irish regiment, which fought under Montrose against the Covenanters. At his side is Tadg Mor O’Kavanagh, his foster-brother, a giant in physique and a dour fighter with the broadsword. They stand together in the battle of Tippermuir; and it is after this, in the sullen streets of Aberdeen, that they find the girl, Margaret Anderson, sitting in the stocks. They carry her off to the camp, and it is soon clear that Margaret, for all her brusque ways, is growing fond of Martin. But Martin seems to have a wav with women. As if one rescue is not enough, he discovers Iseabal Rose locked up in a tower because she refuses to marry the man of her father s choice. These two girls lead Martin and Tadg into wild adventures. Margaret falls into the hands of the Covenanters, and is under sentence of death; but the foster brothers go off together to the tower of Spynie, and do a deed of wild daring that makes the countryside ring with their fame. It is Iseabal Rose, however, who brings Martin to the hours of darkest trouble, and in tne final scenes there is man’s work for him to do before he can claim his love. This book has the movement of armies in it, and the threads of personal adventure run through a larger weaving of history. Its men are brawny fellows who know how to take the shock of battle where the fighting is done at close quarters; and its women are fit companions for soldiers of fortune, with a proper gentleness in them when the wars can be forgotten. John Buchan also writes of Scotland; but his novels are set in a time nearer our own. His Dickson McCunn stories have long been favourites with a faithful public, and they have' now>.been gathered between the one set of covers for the delight of new readers. The adventures begin when Dickson McCunn, middle-aged Scottish grocer, sells his business. On a bright morning, while in the act of shaving, he decides to pack his rucksack and follow the country roads in search of that secret beauty of the opening year which has lured many feet down the long ways of the world. It leads Dickson to the village of Cruives and to the dark shape of Huntingtower, lording it oyer the countryside. And it leads him, also, to strange dealings with a Russian princess, to battles in the woods and wild encounters with conspirators. The story is rich with incident, and with the seasoned manner which adds something special to the romances of John Buchan. After “Huntingtower” comes “Castle Gay” and “The House of ’Hie Four Winds”; and although it is Jaikie —formerly of the Gorbals Die-Hards —who has most of the thrills in these later books the genial presence of Dickson McCunn holds the stories to . a single thread. For good values in modern romance it would be hard to find anything better than these three novels—99B pages of excitement and good humour. Special mention should be made of the fine large type. It will hold many readers to the pages through the deepending hours of night.