The Adventures of Dick Trevanion. By Herbert Strang. (Hodder and
Stoughton. 6s.)—This is a story after a boy's heart, treating
of smugglers and family feuds and French privateers. The hero, who is the only child of a much-decayed family in Cornwall, becomes, more or less against his upbringing, a great stumbling- block to the free-traders, and the Trevanions stand a very good chance of being wiped out altogether. It is an interesting story, and the circumstantial account of the seals' cave, the old mine, and the exciting occasions when smugglers' " runs " took place, will appeal to West Country boys who have heard many tales of the trade with Boscoff in the early days of the last century. Mr.
Strang knows how to tell these stories ; he has the local colour and the details with which to make the incidents real, and he is not often " caught out." A covey of snipe, we think, is not a recognised sporting phrase. The tale is good reading, and all the characters are vigorously outlined; Double Dick and the fisherman are certainly successful, and there are some dramatic scenes towards the end. Tho problem which confronts the Trevanions, who, while by no means inimical to the smugglers, are brought into conflict with them merely from motives of humanity, is treated with considerable skill. We recommend boys to judge of this for themselves, and imagine what they would have done in Dick Trevanion's place.
Previous page
