The Heir of Hascombe Hall. By Evelyn Everett - Green. (Nelson and
Sons. 5s.)—The chief fault to be found with this book is that it is too long drawn out, and that many of the incidents have the character of padding. As the title, indeed, suggests, it is mainly about the wrong heir and the right heir, and of course the right heir gets righted in the long run. Too much time, however, is spent in bringing out the differences between the characters of the rivals, Hugo and Edgar. Perhaps, also, we have too frequent repetitions of " Who dares kill Kildare, Kildare kills !" and too many suggestions of G. P. R. James, as in the allusion to "two wayworn travellers whose weary horses were patiently and laboriously picking their way through the dark forest tracks as the long midsummer day drew to its close and the twilight stole upon them almost unawares." Otherwise this book is an exeellent and rather ambitious example of the historical novel. It endeavours, not unskilfully, to reproduce the ecclesiastical struggle in the days of Henry VII. The prior who plays such an important part in it is a well-drawn representative of the Church that was too militant for its own sake; while a young, spirited, and generous prince gives a taste of his kingly quality.
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