The Founding of Fortunes. By Jane Barlow. (Methuen and Co.
Gs.)—Our distrust of the Irish novel as a source of enter- tainment—we admit there are notable exceptions—has again proved well founded. The "founder of a fortune" is a certain. Timothy Galvin, who from the humble beginning of stealing a leathern pouch full of money — this is the substance of Book I. ("Transfers ")—goes on to " Evictions " (Book II.) and "Purchases" (Book III.) The process is easy enough to understand, nor is it difficult to conjecture how Miss Barlow will develop the theme. There is much excellent writing in the book, many vivid pictures of life, many vigorous studies of character; but it is not, on the whole, pleasant to read. It is less of a novel than of a study of Irish life, social and economical,— happily the political element is not prominent. But whether v. e are pleased or not, we have to read—Miss Barlow has that com- pelling power—and we have to thank her for allowing us to see a ray of sunshine at last.
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