THE CURSE OF EVE. By Flora Annie Steel. (Bodlek Held:
7s. 6d.)--For the work of such a veteran writer, this- novel is singularly up to date.It is true that Mrs. Steel's' Underlying point is that where w-omen are concerned there is neither ancient nor modern, but only—Eve. The Eve of her 'story—Eve Graham—is very much of our time in exter- nals' ; but what do externals matter ? "My God," she says,, "I- thought I was modern ! I thought that civilization andeducation had knocked primaeval jealousy out of me, —but I'm the original woman—who intended to keep the man she had captured by all metuti lair or foul—as I mean by. fair or foul to get him." And get him she does. Poor Margaret Malpas, left with the family estate on her hands,. thinks to marry an illegitimate cousin, who has at least the Malptis blood in his veins, when Eve, the saucy Society manne- quin, butts- in and snatches him—and, later, the estate as well ! There are other snatchers in the book. A cabaret dancer, having fired the heart of a sober and learned scientist, marries a Jew moneylender, while Amy Ames keeps her niece in the background because she wants George Graham . for herself. After long experience, Mrs. Steel seems to have • had a poor opinion of her own sex. But:she never lost her gift for colourful, vivacious narrative.
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