MORE PENROD STORIES.

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

MORE PENROD STORIES.

The supreme quality of Booth Tarkington's Penrod stories, like that of hit; "Seventeen," is the unqualified naturalness of the characterisation and of the incident. At 110 point is there any tendency to force situations or to give any of the characters more pigment than is in keeping with the particular type being nainted. Those who read " Penrod " will find more delights in store in " Penrod and Sam," which pursue the adventures and boyhood pranks of that arch-fiend of mischief, Penrod Scholefield. Booth Tarkrngton from the outset, of his career as a noveilist- has had a, great band of admirers, and one of tho secrets of his continued success is that his output does not fnil below the liigh standard that was set by such a book as " The* Gentleman of Indiana." Ho is versatile in conception, and his powers in character delineation are always used to their utmost, and he is a writer dfr virile but easy-flowing English, with a sparkle of good humour to brighten everything. " Penrod and Sam 1 is a companion book to " Perrrod" ; one should nof be read without tho other. lij would bo unfair to the author, to Pcnjod and to the reader to recount, however briefly, any of tho turbulent boyish adventures in these stories, and tho best 0110 can do is to state as emphatically as possible that "Penrod and Sam " is a book that must not bo overlooked by juveniles between the ages bf ten and seventy, and ovr-n the elderly people over seventy will find in it tho recollections of boyhood and a deep well of laughter. "Penrod and Sam." by Booth Tarkington. Messrs Plodder and Stough'ton, London, through Messrs Whitcorabo and Tombs. Price 4s.