Camiola: a Girl with a Fortune. By Justin McCarthy, M.P.
(Chatto and Windns.)—In this novel we find some of the fine qualities for which we are accustomed to look in Mr. Rutin McCarthy's works : there is, indeed, more of mere ingenuity in the plot than he usually condescends to use. Nevertheless, the true self, the real, genuine, critical taste of the author, are not revealed by this story as we have been accustomed to find them in all that he has done since " Miss Misanthrope," and as they culminated in " Maid of Athens." Camiola, though not up to its author's mark, is above the average of recent fiction, and it contains some striking situations, with at least one entertaining and admirably drawn character, Mrs. Pollen. For Camiola herself we are not made to care very much, and it is a peculiarity of the book—no doubt intentional—that her " fortane " is important only on the title-page ; she could have done all she does without it. A special word of acknowledgment is also due to Finnic, as an original, spirited, lifelike creation.
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