29 JANUARY 1898, Page 13

The Craftsman. By Rowland Grey. (Ward, Lock, and Co.)— This

is a powerful story of the dramatic world,—playwriters,

managers, and the rest. The theatre takes itself a great deal too seriously. But, granted that it is as important as it thinks, this tale is a distinct success. The description of Hawtrey Sharron's failure is particularly good. It was not so important an event as the fall of a Ministry, and the tragedy seems a little over- strained. Still, it is a good piece of writing.