Quicksilver and Flame. By St. John Lucas. (E. Arnold. 65.)
—Mr. St. John Lucas is winning recognition as the discoverer of a very pleasing form of fiction,—the sentimental comedy, in which the characters are so witty and accomplished that they have the air in all their doings of watching themselves with a slightly amused smile. But in his new novel there is less detachment and more passion, and we are not quite sure that the author moves with as certain a step in that difficult land. It is the tale of an Italian actress with whom an English politician falls in love. The man is unhappily married, and the lady refuses to ruin his life and forfeit her art by accepting him. Then follows the usual incident,—he departs to Central Africa, and she becomes a world- famous actress. By the time they meet again his wife is dead ; but her art still dominates her, and they separate once more. We leave our readers to discover the ingenious device by which Mr. Lucas brings his tale tea happy ending. Elena Bardi is a charming figure, but among the men we prefer the boy Gerald Vane to the somewhat Byronic Lord Basil. All the minor characters aro drawn with care and skill, and in the sketches of the eccentric doctor Ismay at the beginning of the book, and of the Paris art students at the end, Mr. Lucas has added some pleasing new figures to our acquaintance. The book is admirably written, and the wit of the talk is so natural that it may elude the duller sort of reader altogether.
Previous page
