Anthony John. By Jerome B. Jerome. (Cassell. 78. ed.) This
is the Jerome not of Three Men in a Boat, but of the Passing of the Third Floor Back. Anthony is successful in everything he touches, from love to business, but at last he is challenged by the spirit of Christianity. For a time he evades it by using his wealth to build model dwellings, but soon he comes to believe that material improvements are not going to save civilization any more than bread and circuses saved Rome. It might be argued that the doled-out bread and the circuses Ailed because they violated an economic law, not from any natural inefficacy. But Mr. Jerome
follows his idea to the end and we are left with the certainty that Anthony will give up his great possessions and attempt to lead the Christ-like life. Mr. Jerome handles most skil- fully a theme than an inferior artist would horribly mutilate.
Previous page
