"THE BRONZE EAGLE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12087, 16 August 1917, Page 8

"THE BRONZE EAGLE."

"Tho Hundred Davs " have afforded more material for fiction and romance than perhaps any other similar - period ainee tho dawn of history, and to-day, although the world has been revolutionised since 1815, no period offers such a, fascinating ground for the pen of the romancist. The volumes which hare been written around tho epochmaking days have been legion, and would assuredly constitute a "library of no mean dimensions, and even now, after a hundred years and more have passed, scarcely a month passes without. a valuable addition to the long catalogue of books in which tho " Mau of Destiny" occupies the foremost place. And with every book that appears tho appetite of the readers .seems to increase rather than otherwise, and the demand, like that of Oliver Twist, is ever lor "more." The human interest in the period seems to increase with the passing of years, and no matter how a story may be the lifo of tho Great Corsicau it*has its admirers. "We have road many books of this period, and we must confess that none of them could by any stretch of imagination be regarded us lacking interest. The Haroness Orczy js among the latest foremost writers of the present day to deal again with this period, and in the volume before us, "The Bronze Eagle," she tells a fascinating story of that tar-away lime. From the landing at Jouan on that fateful dn.y in March, 1815, to tho final collapse after "Waterloo, the story is told with all the Baroness's pmver of description, and from the first, page to tho last the narrative is full of human interest, brimful of strong pen portraiture, with, of course, the usual love story running through the pages. In the opening pages we have a wellpainted picture of the historical lauding, and the enthusiasm for which that landing was responsible. She says, dealing with this particular part of the story:— Napoleon Bonaparte has landed in the Bay of Jouan with eleven hundred uicn nnd four guns to reconcpior Franco and tho sovereignty of the- world. Six hundred of his Old Guard, six score of bis Polish cnvalry, three or four hundred Corsican chasseurs; thus did that sublime adventurer embark upon an expedition the most mad, the most dnrinpr, tho most heroic, the most egotistical, the. most tragic and tho mo3t glorious which recording .Destiny has ever written in the book of this world. Through more than three hundred pages the graphic and interesting story is told iu tho authoress's best style, and from "the first page to tho last interest never flags. Many of tho leading characters of the period are depicted in striking language; tho writer shows exceptional familiarity with the manners and customs of the time, and in this way she has distinct advantage over many who have essayed to deal with the period of Napoleon. To admirers of ihe adventurous and particularly interesting period of history the book can be warmly recommended. "Tho Bronze Eagle: A Story of tho Hundred Days and of a Very Gallant English Gentleman," by Barouess Orczy. Messrs Hodder and Stoughton, London. From Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs. Christchurch. Price, Is 6d.