The Heart of Man. By S. R. Hocking. (F. Warne
and Co.)— The hero, who tells his own story, suddenly appears in a remote village in the Fen Country, and gives himself out as a naturalist. He takes lodgings, and falls in love with the daughter of the house, and no one suspects that he is wanted for murder, and that he himself has the weight of manslaughter on his conscience. It is a powerful story—and the style, always clear and forcible, i3 capable of much dramatic expression—certainly the best WO have had from Ur. Hocking; and the background of Fen life is just painted in enough to throw into relief the hunted man's period of peace in the silent marshes. How Arthur Llewellyn fares we leave to its readers to discover; but the interest becomes most intense towards the end, and the convict's suspense is vigorously portrayed. The Heart of Man is not sensational in the ordinary acceptance of the word,—that is to say, the tragic events of the story come naturally enough, but it is a tale with much tragic and pathetic interest, and moreover, it is in every way wholesome and sweet, and Mary Jessop is, if not very real, yet lovable enough.
Previous page
