Vandrad the Viking. By J. Storer Clouston. (T. Nelson and
Sons.)—Mr. Clouston gives in this story an abundance of the fighting, and a fair amount even of the drinking, that are generally associated with Viking stories. But ho also intro- duces the rather uncommon elements of a feud and a spell, a hermit, a seer, and a mysterious maiden. Not only so, but he succeeds in putting the reader off the scent at the beginning. Prince Estein or Vandrad and Helgi, who plays Jonathan very effectively to his David, start off on their first expedition under such depressing circumstances that you look forward to nothing but gloomy tragedy. Mr. Clouston must be permitted to tell in his own way how the cloud of depression lifts, and how the spell, though not actually removed, is rendered non-catastrophic. His battle-pieces, such as the fight between Estein and the Orkney Vikings, are remarkably good. The story of Estein's kidnapping of his rival, Liot, before killing bim in open combat, is delight- fully told. Finally, he and Olsa make an excellent Norse Romeo and Juliet.
Previous page
