18 JULY 1891, Page 41

A Leading Lady. By Henry Herman. (Chatto and Windus.)— This

is " a story of the stage." A wealthy gentleman backs up a falling theatre for the sake of obtaining a first-class engagement for a lady, hitherto only known in the provinces, with whom he is in love. The ungrateful woman goes perilously near to falling in love herself with a very fascinating actor. Happily, the two aspirants are subjected to a crucial test out of which the too fascinating man comes out much the worse. The theatrical talk is very lively and amusing, and the managerial troubles vividly described. Everything goes well, and though the ice is sometimes very thin, no one falls through.