HALL CUBE'S "THE CHRISTIAN."

Western Star, Issue 2155, 10 November 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

HALL CUBE'S "THE CHRISTIAN."

As for, Mr Hall Caine, says Mr Sherrard in the Bookman, his colossal labour on this book will at last be terminated when he has read a final set of proofs. Those who are familiar with Mr Caine's methods of work, and know how great is his conscientiousness, will sympathise with him in the emotion with which on the last page of the M.S. of " The Christian " he has written under " The End " the words " Thank God !" I have this sheet before me as I write, and strong as my temptation as a chroniqueur is to reveal the striking denouement of the story, lam under promise not to do so. Beneath the " Thank God "is the following note :". The writing of the final version of ' The Chiistian ' was begun on Sunday, July 26th, 1896. It was finished Tuesday, July 13th, 1897 " ; and underneath this is the exclamation, " Yet now I shall not know what to do with myself !" a feeling which must come to most authors —except Zola—at the end of each prolonged task. I say except Zola, because Zola has told me that as soon as he has written the word finis, he dismisses the work just terminated from his mind, and immediately begins on the next

The proofs of "The Christian" have been submitted to at least twenty different specialists for revision—divines, music-hall stars, doctors, hospital nurses and lawyers—lest an error of technique may have crept in. Albert Chevalier and Father Adderley amongst others, have read the proofs. The importance of absolute correctness in all minor details is paramount in a book of this description, for it is un livre d'attaque, and its adversaries will seize upon the most tricing technical error to ridicule the author and impugn his accuracy. Eor example Hall Caine has received scores of letters to point out tbat he is mistaken in describing an Oxford doctor's hood as made of scarlet cloth. Hall Caine saw the tailor, and saw the cloth before he made this description, and so could disregard the acidulated criticisms of his correspondents, who seem only too ready to argue that an author who could describe the academical vestment so erroneously must necessarily be disbelieved—on the gvonnd of inaccuracy—where he describes the modern deviations in the application of Christianity.