Broken Away. By B. E. Grimshaw. (John Lane.) — The characters in
this story are literary and professional, and we are introduced behind the scenes. We can appreciate the description of some of the literary man's troubles and vexations. The Rivingtons are a very charming couple, and the account of their
holiday and relapse into barbarism is very pleasant reading. The disturbing element is another author who has the delusion that Rivington has stolen his brains. The finale is tragical. The motive of Moore's madness is not, indeed, so absurd as it at first appears,—men so often steal each other's ideas, which are as scarce as brains are plentiful, that the consequent uselessness of a brain alone is forcibly brought home to a writer. Most minds are of limited fertility—only one harvest can be gathered—and then ensues the process of "cudgelling one's brains." Poor Moore will have many sympathisers.
Previous page
