The Autobiography of a Cornish Rector. By the late James
Haruley Trogenna. 9 vols. (Tinsloy.)—Why arc we not allowed a word of preface or introduction to tell us something about "Janice Hawley Tregonna "? We are haunted with a doubt which somewhat interferes with our enjoyment of a very pleasant book whether this Cornish Rector ever was a real personage. We know that Cornwall is happy in the possession of at least one ingenious gentleman, who has had a success never, at all events, surpassed in palming off (we do not mean to use a discourteous word, but can think of no other) modern antiques. Is it possible that the author of And shall Trolawney Die ?" has anything to do with this autobiography ? Whatever may be the value of these speculations about authorship, it is quite certain that the autobiography is not all genuine. In fact, the author does not care to keep on the mask perpetually. Once we have a note pointing out an anachronism, and taking the blame of it, we presume, from off the shoulders of the "late James Hensley Tregenna " on to those of the writer. And in another place we read at the bottom of the page, by way of commenda- tion of an anecdote in the text, "This misadventure really occurred in the presence of one of my friends." Whoever the author may be or may have been, he writes well, and has plenty of exciting stories to toll us. Some, too, of the reminiscences are obviously genuine,—those of Oxford, for instance, are so. In fact, we have only one fault to find with the book. We should like to know whether we are reading fact or fiction.
Previous page
