Novels in Brief
Ma. PErr RIDGE'S new novel, Hayward's Fight (Meths .7s. 6cl.) describes the adventures of two girls who are suddeol left to carry on their father's big printing business, of whi they have had no experience. The story is sometimes probable and slow-moving. But it is saved from dullness the Cockney humour and atmosphere in which the auth excels. * * * * Less deliberately amusing, but convincing, are the simple annals of a London girl which 3 Clare Cameron gives us in Rustle of Spring (Palmer. 7s. 6d. There is a quiet charm, suggestive of autobiography, in t record of the life, aspirations and self-education of a girl Who born in Barking, wins her way into a Fleet Street office and marriage with 'a successful artist. * * * simple in style and lacking in plot, but equally interest because of its patent fidelity to life, is Miss Ann Denman A Silent Handicap (Arnold. 7s. ed.). Here the heroine is illegitimate girl, born deaf and dumb in a workhouse. workhouse scenes, and those describing the deaf and du " special " school at which the child is trained, are engrossmg if depressing, and are obviously drawn from intimate Mot ledge. * * * * America has waxed indignant o Revelry (Brentano's. 7s. 6d.). Mr. Samuel Hopkins Ad has obviously based hii novel upon the character of the fat President Harding, and the action turns upon the oil s in which he was concerned. But the book is too much of caricature and too sensational to have any serious value as interpretation of American political life, while as a mere it is too full- of American slang to please the average Engh5 reader. * * *: .Cesca Gibson, the heroine of Miss C Thornton's Travesty (Philip Allan, 7s. 6d.), rejects the love the sterli, but poor, John Lancing, and marries the rid • but weak, ,Sir Sir James Gaston. She realizes her mistake be Sir James gambles' his fortune away and John unexpectem inherits wealth. She sends for John, who, though still ardent' in love with her, resists the.temptation to take her. Inst he encourages her to remain loyal to her husband, while finds solace in acting as- guardian to the two sons of a friend. Miss Thornton writes with spiritual conviction. ,_the moral remains implicit, and this study of the truest Varest kind of love is a pleasant and moving story, nw
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