11 MAY 1918, Page 16

A dozen of Mr. Leonard Merrick's fellow-authors art contributing introductions

to a new edition of twelve of his novels. The first volume, Conrad in Quest of his Youth (Hodder and Stoughton, Os. net), has an attractive and enthusiastic Prefsee by Sir J. M. Barrie, Who describes the book as "the best sentimental journey that has been written in this country since the publication of the other one," and adds, "I know scarcely a novel by any living Englishman, except a score or so of Mr. Hardy's, that I Would rather have written." We cannot share Sir J. M. Barrio's kindly enthusiasm for this novel, but we may at least record his opinion.