A Sinner in Israel. By Pierre Costello. (Hurst and Blackett.
3s.)—The author of this book shows a remarkable acquaintance with Jewish ceremonial and with the feelings of professing Jews. Three-quarters of the volume is occupied with these matters, and this part of the story is extremely interesting. When, however, the author thinks it necessary to introduce one of the conventional mock-Royal romances of South-Eastern Europe which have lately been so popular, the book becomes very much less noteworthy. Whether any one was ever quite so clever, so beautiful, and so detestable as Malka Solvano may be doubted. Strange, too, is the attitude of the hero, David Solvano, to the Jewish faith when he finds that he is not a Jew by blood. There are many absurdities in the book, and the descriptions of magnificent parties and receptions are given with an Oriental touch of imagery. Still, the novel will be welcome for its insight into the feelings of the wonderful race with which it deals, and if the character of the hero does not completely hang together, the reader will at least be much interested in his fate.
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