BOOKS REVIEWED.

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14713, 30 July 1921, Page 9 (Supplement)

BOOKS REVIEWED.

CURRENT LITERATURE. “The Mysterious Rider,” by Zane Grey. A new story by Hie popular American novelist, z,aue Grey, is always assured of a nearly welcome from that big public which finds its chief literary delights in descriptions of dramatic efuaoues and romantic happenings in what lias been called “tlie wild and woolly west,” Mr Grey’s latest story, “'rile Mysterious Rider” (Redder aud btuughton, per svililcomlX! aim Tombs) should certainly not decrease its author’s popularity. It is a fullblooded romance of life on a hiig cattle ranche in Colorado, with an honest ami plucky young cattle man as its hero, end a typically Western girl as its heroine. Young Wilson Moore, the hero, loves an orphan girl, who rejoices in the pretty name of Columbine. Her guardian, honest Bill Bciihounds, a pioneer rancher, wishes her to marry Iris scapegrace sun Jack, commonly known as “Buster Jack,” on account of his vile temper. Against “Wils" Moore “Buster Jack” swears deadly enmity a ; nd resorts to some most despicable and finally criminal devices tu rid himself of his rival. Before wo reach that happy ending which we expect—and unfailingly gel —in a Zane Urey novel, “Wils” lias to go through a long series of trying and danger-laden experiences, and mere are limes when lie is almost In despair. An eccentric old fellow, an ex-mining prospector, who finally turns out to he Columbine’s long-lost father, comes to tlie rescue and cutwits and out-manoeuvres the villain of the piece, eventually saving ids daughter’s sweetheart’s life at the expense of ids own, and thus making supreme atonement fur the cruel injustice which, when Columbine was an infant, he had done her mother. I’ho story is packed full of sensational incident, and is replete with picturesque local colour. As a “Wild West” yarn, “The Mysterious Rider” should at otu c gain popular favour. Biasco Ibanez. The money Biasco Ibanez collected in royalties for his translated novels in the United Stales, beginning with the enormous sales of "Tlie Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," has been variously computed, but all computations approach the million dollar mark. A popular story to tlie effect that Biasco Ibanez parted with his rights to the novel mentioned for a small sum of money lias been denied by his American publishers. As the Spaniard was no neophyte, but a fledged author, famous in Paris as in Madrid, the denial seems to ho Hie right version. It arose in Hie public mind possibly from a suit brought by the translator, of “The Four Horsemen.” No foreign novelist in this or in the generation before this one has met with a like success, and this is dominated in money as well as fame. His voyage has already lasted longer than usually happens in the case of a foreign'and a’ Latin writer. IVfioawber in Australia. It is not generally known that Charles Dickens, Hie. famous novelist, had property in Australia. Tile first ho acquired was a terrace of cottages in Richmond, Melbourne. Mis agent, an aged and eccentric man, was successful in having the street named by Hie local municipal council “Dickens Street.” Another terrace of cottages in Carlton caused the same old gentleman, on behalf of Inis patron, to g’et Hie Melbourne City Council to name Hie lane where they were located, “Little Dorrit Street.” It has often Leon said that the old gentleman who acted as agent to the gifted novelist was no othei than the person Charles Dickens immortalised in the character of Miicawber in “David Copperfleld.” Tlie properly is still held by the Dickens family, but the old agent has long since sent in his accounts. “Against the Winds,” by Kate Jordan. Written by a woman, about women, and for women, this book will bo widely read. There are some male characters, but they are for the most part Hie lay figures that necessary and are made tu know their place. As Hie scene is laid in America, this is all the easier. The heroine is a lovely, educated girl, who is found stagnating in a country town with longings for the wider world. She lias an uncongenial mother and is a square peg in a round hole in every way. Naturally, site gets away, and then her experiences begin. Marriage is among them, and she finds this something different from her expectations. There arc all sorts of temptations and dangers and experiences, which contrast greatly witli Hie girl’s earlier life, but no irreparable disaster, and the reader will bo gratified when Hie last page is reached. Published by Modeler and Stoughton. Popular Authors. A literary chronicler draws attention to Hie long periods over which some of the must popular of living British novelists have been piopular. It is thirty-four years since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first book, “A Study in Scarlet,” appeared. Mo produced one or more books in every year up to 1900, and since then there have been very few breaks in Ids annual output. Mr 11. G. Wells lias been writing with amazing activty for twenty-six years. Mr Arnold Bennett’s writings now slroleh over twenty-three years, tils first novel, “A Man From the North,”

was published in 1898. In this year, also Mr Phillips Oppenhciin wrote his first story. Mr G. B. Burg’n. who has now about sixty novels to ids credit, began in 1894.

Mr Conrad’s first‘novel, “Almayer’s Folly,” appeared twenty-six years ago, but ho wailed long to be popular. Thomas Hardy’s ‘Desperate Remedies” appeared just fifty years ago, and Ids last novel, “Jude, Lite Obscure,” twenty-six years ago. But probably Hie longest working ot our living nuveJiists is Mr .1. E. Preston Muddock (“Dick Donovan”), who has very properly pointed out that Ids first i.evcl was issued in Hiree volumes in I.Sl.'t, and Ids last only a few weeks ago, so dial ’ liis‘ - actual career as a novelist lias lasted forty-eight years.

May Sinclair’s income from royalties since Hie appearance of “Mary Oliver” is said to he £3OOO a year. This is made up largely from tlie continuous sales of her early hooks. “flic Divine Fire” and “Tlie Three Sisters." Each new book revives a sale of its predecessors. Miss Sinclair is reported to have received in British gold and American greenbacks for the psychological study mentioned a sum in excess of £IO,OOO.