30 SEPTEMBER 1916, Page 19

READABLE NovEr.s.—Given in Marriage. By B. M. Croker. (Hutch- been

and Co. Os.)—As is usual with Mrs. Croker, the half of the book in which the scene is laid in India is better reading than the later part which passes in England.—Dead Men's Gold. By Roy Bridges. (Hodder and Stoughton. fie. net.)—A story of a wrecked galleon and a deserted island. A spice of novelty is given by the scene being laid off the coast of Australia, not, as the reader might think from the first paragraphs, off the coast of Scotland.—The Window in the Fence. By Harriet Brunkhurst. (Same publishers. Gs.)-An autobiographical novel of everyday life in American country. The book would be more attractive if the characters had names like human beings, and were not called " the Man," " the Blue Hussar," &c., &c.—Petunia. By Mrs. George Wemyss. (Constable and Co. 6s.)—A country story on lines made familiar by Mrs. Wemyss, and a good example of her style.