SOME RECENT NOVELS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 19 July 1917, Page 8

SOME RECENT NOVELS.

Among books received lately is '" Lewis Seymour am] Some Women," by George Moore (London: Willinm lleinemann). When requested by his publisher to prepare for ;j< collected edition of his works, bis story, " A Modern Lover," written rn;iny years ago. Mr Moore. t.ried, he says, to rewrite it. on<l finding he could not, determined to write, a fresh story with the .same characters and incidents. Hence the story of Lewi?; Seymour's career and how •some women affected the man and tho artist. A poor young model, a, rich damo and a .young ladv of rank in turn love and assist, him on his way in the -world. Seymour is not a fascinating hero,' and his story is not a Sunday school story, and the woman of whom least h told is most interesting—perhaps that last is only what might in any caso be expected, and certainly the secoud feature should not bo unexpected by those acquainted with Mr Moore's work. Lewis Seymour's career affords opportunity for much art talk and much detail of the "primrose path of dalliance."

In a novel, " He Looked in my Wiudow,'' by Robert; Halifax (London : Chatto and Wind us), a delightful comedy is provided for those who will accompany Ruth Shadd up and down the, High Road. Independent Ruth has many little adventures with 'the different men who looked in her window before she finds the one who has been " looking through all the time, only waiting to .slip inside and take" her. And there is hardlv an uninteresting

person in the comedy—which is intensely human. Shadd, senior, with his love of his little garden and his pecuniary tragedy, Mrs Shade! with her biting tongue, young " Erbio " Ruth's mischievous imp of a.brother, J\lary Woodhouse her rival, fat, unscrupulous Bulstrode the money-lender—who is one of the "lookers," and whoso "taking clown" is one of tho most cheerful chapters—and the balance of the "lookers, 1 ' all take their share in making Ruth's story one of the kind that you must, if you can. read to a finish at a sitting. The, creative powor one finds is what one might expect; from the author of that, grim document, "Tho 'White Thread," a title, by the way. at first sight no more indicative of what is between the boards than is the title of Mr Halifax's present, story. '' Zella Sees Herself," by E. M. Delafield. is the. stoi-y of a spoilt youngster, daughter of a Frenchman and an English worno.n, sensitive and always dosiring at. any cost to be on good terms with those with whom she is brought in contact. Zella, unfortunately for lierseli. is never sincere—at any rate she never allows hev real feelings to direct her actions and she. docs not tell the iruth, but says what she thinks will please. The. habit of posing is constitutional and js allowed to develop by ail indulgent father after her mother's death. Zella, does not • desire ihe " giftio ' to see herself a.s others see h>-r some of these regard, her n,s a little liar—-but she does finally see herself, and is not satisfied. Her mother's sister is what an Miiier generation would probably have nailed a " Can-t-ion ; she is a managing lady with a notion that, she can act as special Providence under any circumstances, and that, her way is the only way. Tn tho book .she is amusing—in life she would probably b<> the producer of a. first-class tragedy and numerous minor tragedies. The old French lady with her " Tt. is not. done," and Bella's downright cousin, nearly tho only man who understands her, are interesting characters.