"Novels of Action," it is only fair to judge the
books that belong to that school from the standpoint of action, and not to look for qualities in them that would appeal more directly to our
personal tastes. According to this rule, we have nothing but praise for The Splendid Spur. "Q." has done good work before, but hardly such fine work as this stirring story of the times cf Charles I., with its military dash and ring, its brisk progression of incident and motive, its sharp, clear portrayal of character, and its admirably disguised and skilfully conducted intrigue. The quaintness of the language is not overdone ; it is never tiresome ;
the local colour is not too thickly laid on ; the personages are lifelike ; and the soldierly element is well managed. The heroine of the story is not our ideal, but she improves vastly before her lover says good-bye to her at the water's edge, when she is leaving England, and Mr. John Marvell, mounting his mare 'Molly,' rides off "inland to the wars."
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