Success. By Una L. Silberrad. (Constable and Co. 6s.)—The name
of this novel seems something of a paradox, as the " success " of Michael Annarly, the hero, does not come till the last few chapters. The book, in fact, describes how by the dishonest deal- ing of the firm which employs him he is hurled from the pinnacle of success which he appears to be attaining in the first chapter. Michael is by profession an engineer and by right of birth an inventive genius, and the firm which employs him steals his inventions and tries to ruin him by accusing him of selling to other firms inventions made while in their employ which they did not wish to use. Michael maintains that they have given leave for this, but they decline to prosecute and dismiss him. He has therefore no chance of clearing himself and no chance of further employment, as they retain the plans of the various inventions made while he was with them. Fortunately they have no one of sufficient genius to carry out these plans, and the one weak point of the book seems to be the extraordinary lack of business instinct which permits so great a firm as Galhardy's, to whom the possession of an inventive genius is of vital im- portance, to lose their hold on Michael. Meanwhile he takes refuge with Mr. Barmister, a relation, who is a curio dealer in a large way of business, and whose daughter, Nan, resolves to save Michael from despair. The story, like all Miss Silberrad's work, is admirably written, and though Nan's determination, at the end of the book, not to marry Michael is right from a sentimental point of view, it seems almost a pity that so erratic a personage should not have a sensible woman to look after him.
Previous page
