28 NOVEMBER 1908, Page 27

The Story of Esther. By Maud Oxenden. (W. Blackwood and

Sons. 6s.-)—The faults of this story are more those of manner than of matter, the writer having acquired a habit of sententiously addressing her readers, using for the purpose the first person singular. In the epilogue, indeed, she so far forgets her dignity as an author as to apostrophise her reader as "you." This form of writing does not make for elegance of style. It would not be fair to reveal the central fact of the book, but the scene in which Esther enlightens her nephew as to the past is powerfully written and well conceived.. If Mrs. Oxenden will guard against her tendency to overfamiliarity with her public, her next book will be more satisfactory reading.