The Children of the Sea : a Romance. By H.
de Vere Stacpoole. (Hutchinson and Co. 6s.)—Mr. de Vere Stacpoole's new book is of the school of Kipling ; indeed, much of it, especially the first part, with its absorbing account of the laying of a deep-sea cable, is not unworthy to stand beside Captains Courageous, for Mr. Stacpoole has the courage to make an uncompromising and effective use of the technicalities of his subject. Moreover, the sketching of the Icelandic coast life is good, full of vigour and sea winds and romance ; and the description of the cod-fishing is also good. " They would have taken a bare hook. They came aboard springing and leaping on the lines, poke-hooked most of them. The fishermen, after the first few minutes, had no breath to waste on speech ; it was the labour of giants. The sea had opened her hand wide and full of treasure, and was crying to them to take whilst they could. And they took and took : twelve-pounders, thirteen- pounders, fifteen-pounders, varying from three feet to three feet eight inches, till the work, from wild excitement, turned to dull monotony, and from that to heart-breaking weariness." Only, Mr. Stacpoole has failed in courage at the last, and has been afraid to stake the whole success of his work on his power to write of the rougher things of life. We could do with a great deal more of his sea, and sky, and cables; but it is in dialogue and in knowledge of character that he is likely to fall short, and we would willingly dispense with all love-interest, with the inevitable young lady, and with the rather melodramatic episode of the leprosy.
Previous page
