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BOOKS & AUTHORS.

[By Liber. "J

SOME RECENT FICTION. THE LATEST ARNOLD BENNETT. Mr. Bennett, in. his latest novel, "The Price of Love" (Methuen and Co.) is back again on his old and favourite ground of the "Five Towns," not, as so many of us had. fondly hoped was tc be the case, with the final instalment of the "Clayhanger" trilogy, but with a set of entirely new puppets to dance for our amusement. Of plot there is none to speak of in "The_ Price of Love," the motif of which is the extraordinary fascination exerted over a good and honest and sensible girl by the unmitgated "waster" /whom she takes for her husband. As a rule, Mr. Bennett's "Five Towns" heroes have keen, oven if "cards" to the perilous verge of downright "bounderism," at least'fairly "straight" so far as personal honesty goes. But Louis Fores, the leading figure in Mr. Bonnott's latest story, is an unmitigated "bad un," as they would say in Burslom, Hanley, and neighbourhood. A wouldbe '4hief, a thief at least by intent if not in actual fact, and a superlatively mean thief at that, he is idle, vicious, ctupid, and conceited. Nevertheless, although his moral weakness is almost a by-word in the town—or towns—a thoroughly good, clean-thinking, clean living woman not only marries him; but oven, when knowing: that -he' has planned _ a base desertion of her, forgives without being asked to do so, end puts up with Tier "bad'lot" permanently, and: with what* to the average reader ia almost, exasperating cheerfulness. The explanation is psychological. The fact isthat Louie Fores, bad egg as he is, as his wife conies to* recognise him as being, is "her man," weak and vicious, but still "her man." Mr. Bennett has never given his adniir-. ers, a closer, more intimate . study of a woman and of the , complicated and often apparently contradictory workings of a woman's innermost nature than in this portrait of Rachel Fores. As for the telling of the story, the characterisation and the dialogue, all. these are as good as over. When you have read an Arnold Bennett story, especially if it has a "Five Towns" scenario, you feel that the people to whom the author has introduced -yon have not only really' lived, but. that you have < met and talked with them.. Therein, in his. unaffected, seemingly unsought realism, lies the true charm of Bennett's stories. I cannot say that I like "The Price of Love" as well as "Clayhanger". or "Hilda . Lessways," bnt it is none the less a fine piece of literary craftsmansirip. But, oh, if Louis Fores could have only married a woman like the Mrs. "Deary" Machin, of'' 'The Card," and ' 'The Regent.'' It would have been worth a trip to the Black Country to witness the way that lady would have "walked round"—the ■ phrase is of the Five Towns—that handsome "waster" of.poor Rachel's.

WHERE BONOS ARE LOOSED. '■ It is a terribly tragic story which is told in Grant Watson's novel "Where Bonds are! Loosed" (Duckworth and C 0.,; .per George Robertson and Co.), and some readers ma.y be excused if they' And the combined flavour of unbridled brutality and .equally unrestrained, sensuality just a trifle too strong:. to allow ttoni to continue to the bitter end of tho story. The sceno is an island in the Eastern Pacific (one of the 2\'ew Ireland Group); w'henco a yqiing doctor is sent froin Queensland to !take ohargo of a. hospital for <«ck natives, There is ..a doctor, there already, and a second' wlnte .man, in the person of a labour foreman, of ferocious 'temper and capable of- .alraosi unfathomable depths of brutality ajik6 in his feudß with men or his relations with women. Add to the queerly assorted trio a woman who is three-parts ■sheor aniraal disguised under a veneer of..civilisation and isolation, mutual jealousies' and dislikes, and > amorous passions provide tho material for a tragedy in-(he'working out of which tho author exhibits considerable ingenuity and undoubted'dramatic pon'or. The only decent character in. the book meets with a most cruel end, an end, in its details, tiiat almost out-Zolas'Zola for sheer griminess and horror. Whoever tyrant AVatson maybe I do not know, but lie is clearly a realistic writer of far more than average ability. But his, story .is.not for. squeamish'folk. • MISS REEVES'S NEW STORY. Miss Amber Reeves, the daughter of the Hon. W. P. Reeves, ex-High Commissioner for' New Zealand, is to be congratulated upon the marked advance displayed by her second uovel ( "A Lady and Her Husband" (Wm. Heineinanh, per .George Robertson and Co.). Allusion has already been made in this col-umn-to the quite striking success Miss Reovea's novel nas achieved in England, where it is now, I believe, in its fourth or fifth edition. New Zealand readers of the book will, I think, cordially, confirm the .'favourable reviews the story has received in the Home Press, for the novel is one which stands'well out of ' T the" ruck of everyday fiction. Balzac has- written of the woman of thirty. Miss Reeves introduces us to a heroine wJio is approaching fifty. Mrs. Hcybam is the wife of a rich man, tho proprietor of restaurants and tea-rooms, establishments in which are employed, at miserably poor wages, a host of young women... c To Mrs. Heyham, ■ happily married to a man whose chief desire it seems to be to satisfy her ©very wish and whim, to this woniail of fifty whose life has been one of ease and luxury; there suddenly comes a shock, for her second daughter, who has been her mother's most constant companion, marries, and Mrs. Heyham, so a younger daughter decides for her, must have some now interests in life. This new interest the wife finds in visiting the establishments run by the Imperial Restaurants, Ltd., of which her husband is now managing director, and in making a careful investigation of the conditions under which' the employees work and indirectly contribute .to the costof Mr. and Mrs. Heyham's luxurious existence. The result first awakens and then shocks her conscience, and finally brings about a cessation of the hitherto peaceful and loving relations of the pair. For her husband has one set of views npon life for his office, and quite another for his home, and politely refuses to make any changes in tho position of the employees. The wife, however, holds a trump card in that her personal fortune is invested in the business, and that this gives her a controlling interest. A--1 second weapon in the cause what she has conio to see is only bare justice to the sweated employees of the Imperial Restaurants, Ltd., is the discovery of the fact that there is a moral blot on her husband's past. Eventually, after a hard struggle, the wife wins, the selfish business man has to capitulate, and tho employees get a substantial advance in wages, the husband flattering himself that after all it is ho who has been mainly responsible for what will in tho long run be a paying move. Tho character drawing in the story is clever and convincing, not tho least admirablo feature being the subtle and yet logical development of the change wrought in the hitherto easy-going, docile wifo by the discovery due that the luxury of her homo is largely due to tho sweating of hundreds of poor waitresses. Heyham, too, is a clever character sketch of tho successful trader, who has two compartments in his conscience, and who deludes himself that selfish greed can be justified as being merely "smart business." There is a modernity of both thought-and troatmont running right through Miss Reevoa'e novel, in

which, too, there is agreeably exemplified the author's keen sense of tlio humorous. "A Lady and Her Husband" is decidedly a novel to be bought, not borrowed. SHORTER NOTICES. A well-written historical novel always appeals to a certain section of readers atid Mr. E. Scott Gillios's story, "The Bed Wedding" John Long's Colonial Library), per 'Whitcombe and Tombs), should please the special public which finds entertainment in this class of fiction. The story deals, with one of the ' stormiest periods in Scottish history, being concerned, in particular, with a fierce feud between two powerful Highland clans, each so powerful that Queen Elizabeth soudit to gain their friendsnip against James IV. There is a pretty love interest in the etory, which, sa.ve for an excess of what Stevenson loved to call "Tuehery," is a very readable production.

"In a Wall of Men" (Chicago: A. C. M'Clurg, per George Robertson), Mrs. Margaret Hill M'Carter gives us a welltold story of, lifo in the Middle Western State of Kansas, in the stormy days which preceded tihe American Civil War, and also during the war. Abolitionists and champions of tho southern slave owners play prominent parts in the drama, in , which, by the way,'the picturesque figure of John Brown, the famous Abolitionist, appears for a while; The hero ia a young Quaker of Scotch descent, whose Peace principles do not, however, prevent him taking part in the war, where he proves himself a gallant combatant. Coloured illustrations by J. N. 'Marchand.

A,new story by Jay Cady, author of that succossfdl novel, "The Moving of the. Watersi". is entitled. ."The Stake" (Geo. W. Jacobs Co., Philadelphia; per George Robertson and Co.). The sosne is laid at Atherton's Cove, a secluded and unfashionable summer resort on the New England coast. The hero, a young Harvard student, named Weston, is leading a .Robinson Crusoe-like existence, on a small island off the Cove, when a shipwreck introduces him, to a very charming girl, who is cast away on the island, and soon a very romantic story is in full ewing, a story whicli for sentimental readers has a most satisfactory conclusion. There is some ■pretty'loyemaking, and plenty of genial humour in the; story., which is decidedly, readable. .

Lord Gartihoyje, an easy-going yoiing nobleman, is lefy a block of West Ena mansions by a rich uncle, who makes, however, the condition that his,nephew shall, himself mailage the property. How this condition is carried out, and of tho extraordinary experiences—with cos-, mopolitan adventurers! burglars, cranky millionaires, and professional gamblers —which fall to the lot of the new owner, is told by Mr.'Edgar Jejison in a series of spiritedly-written stories bearing the general * title .of , "Garthoyle Gardens" (Hutchinson and Co.; per Whitcombe and Tombs). •■ ■

In "Grizel Married" (Miss and Bvbn; per Wlitcombp and Tombs), Mrs. Georgo Do Home Vaizey, our old friend Grizel, (of that amusing "An Unknown Lover"), appears as a married,lady, and plays the good angel to a small host of people, straightening out some serious doniesne tangles, in which tho Lady Cassandra Raynor and certain of y her friends and acquaintances play leading parts. As Mrs. Beverley, our old friend Grizol is as witty and wise and as shrewd as ever. The story is not exactly a sequel, but those who read it will bo tempted to look up Grizel'fi earlier experiences. i -

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19140912.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,831

BOOKS & AUTHORS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 5

BOOKS & AUTHORS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2253, 12 September 1914, Page 5

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