The Antipodeans. By Mayne Lindsay. (Edward Arnold. 6s.) —In his
new novel, The Antipodeans, Mr. Mayne Lindsay gives a solution of the problem as to whether heredity or environment is the stronger factor in determining character. His hero, Gilbert Amyatt, is brought up in Australia by his parents in order that he may escape the curse of mental degeneracy developed in the old house which is the home of his family. Until he is grown up and married, Gilbert never sets foot in England ; but yet the instincts of his ancestors assert themselves when he gets to "Bole," as the house is called, and a rude shock is needed before he can understand how much more important is the proper care of the life of the individual than that of an ancient family. The picture of "Bole" itself, and of its half mad master and wholly mad mistress, is drawn in sharp contrast to the open-air Australian scenes at the outset of the book, and Mr. Mayne Lindsay may be congratulated on getting so mysterious an "atmosphere" into the English part of the story. The book is well written, and is certainly above the average of novels in interest.
Previous page
