MAJOR GRANT. By Carols Oman. (Hodder and Stoughton. 7s. 6d.)—Miss
Oman has introduced so much wit and irony into her new book that even readers inclined to be bored by historical novels will find it difficult to maintain their prejudice after they have struggled through the first two or three chapters. The book has its difficulties, especially in the earlier part, for the author delays her introduction of the hero, Major Colquhoun Grant, described by the Duke of Wellington as being " worth a brigade." As soon as we do meet with the Major, however, whose easily-forgotten appearance added so much to his value as an intelligence officer, our first uneasy attempts to discover
What the story is really about are over and we can settle down to enjoyment. The tale of the hero's adventures as Prisoner of the French, his disguises, his encounter with Napoleon and his final successes, makes sound though not thrilling reading, and Miss Oman is to be congratulated on not having idolized the principal personages of the Napoleonic Wars.
Previous page
