16 OCTOBER 1909, Page 26

Cut Of from the World. By Frank T. Bullen. (T.

Fisher Unwin. 6s.)—This is not, as one might expect, the story of life on a desert island. The hero is a very reserved, self-contained young man, who cares for nothing but his profession, is indifferent to sport and pleasure, and wholly unobservant of the charms of women. Mr. Bullen has, in fact, attempted a somewhat elaborate study of character. We must confess, however, that we like him better in the more familiar r6le of a teller of excellent stories, in which, indeed, the moral element is not by any means wanting, but is perfectly simple and straightforward. The scenes between the "taciturn Antinous " and the very tumultuous Helena, whom he has the bad luck to save from drowning, are not to our taste ; happily there is plenty of well- told incident sad of vigorous sketches of sea-going-persons. Why, we wonder, are all the passengers in Mr. Bullen's story so ignorant, so silly, and commonly so spiteful?