SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 9

SOME RECENT FICTION

THE LATEST PETT RIDGE. ;.In his latest story, "Tho Kennedy People" (Mothuen and Co.), my old favourite, Mr. W. Pett Ridge, is in "better form" as tho racing phrase goes, than ho has boon for some time past. The mannerism of an almost studiously involved allusiveness which was beginning "to grow rather a nuisance, is here, very happily, conspicuous by its absence. It is plain, straightforward tale that Air. Ridge has to tell, in this history of three generations of a London middle-class family, and he tells it in a straightforwird way, which is eminently satisfactory to readers who dislike the 1 narrativo proper to be diverted into side channels. Tho first Kennedy, an able, keen man of business, successfully conducts an engineering works in the north of London. His son, Robert, is, so far as business is concerned, an amiablo incompetent, whose private ambition is to be a successful playwright. Unprincipled employees start a rival business ,and some equally shifty folk encourago a theatrical speculation which closes in dire failure. Eventually the weak-willed, though not naturally vicjous man, leaves his wife and disappears, seemingly for over. Now enters on tho scene Kennedy number three, a warm-hearted, quickwitted lad, who inherits his grandfather's. rather than his father's, characteristics. Mr. .Ridge, always at his best in describing the life of a young Cockney clerk, early and easily secures his reader's interest in the story ot young George's rise to mercantile eminence, tho story which includes, of course, the record of the young fellow's love-makingj closing with his departure for the. West Indies on a special mission for the firm, in which his futuro partnership is assured. In none of Mr. Ridge's stories has the drawing been stronger and more convincing. The placidly self-satisfied Kennedy tho First, Robert, the amiable waster who failed so utterly as Kennedy the Second, and youug George, who bids fair to restore the family fortunes, are all excellent. But to many readers the most, , attractive and sympathetic figure . in this admirable story will be. George'B mother, a splendid, example of feminine pluck, cheerfulness under adverse circumstances, and unquenchable love for. her lad. The period of the story is, I ahould say, the earlier 'eighties of the fast century, and to all v.-ho_ know North London, especially the Highbury district, the story will be of special and peculiar interest. A wholesome, quietly delightful story is "The Kennedy People," one in which Mr. Ridge is, as I have said, quite at his best. . "THE JEALOUS CDDOESS." . Tommy. Lascelles, a young clerk'with aspirations to literary 1 fame, and Norah Hughes, a young lady with .■artistic ambitions, become acquainted one foggy evening in good old London Town, and tho young gentleman, who protects the girl from some roughs, is so badly mauled that the lady, Becoming 'in turn tho protector, takes him to the studio of some artist friends and patches him up. Such is the introduction to the love story of Tommy and Nora, which is told by Miss Madge Mears in her novel, "Tho Jealous Goddess" (London, John Lane). On both sides there are parental objections to tho acquaintanceship, - which ends in a secret marriage. Happiness is, for a time, the lot of tho young couple, but when, each deciding that tho "Jcalons Goddess" of Work shall have tho first claim on their devotion, misunderstandings arise,, especially when the situation is complicated by .the arrival of a baby. How tho. young; peoplo_ manage, with tho assistance ot some kindly and wiser folk, to effect a return to happiness, I must leave it to my. readers to discover for themselves in tho pages of Miss Meare's amusing, and interesting story. "THE HEART OF JOANNA." Thero is strong. evidence in Mr. R. A. Hamblin's novel, "Tho Heart of Joanna" (John, Long), that its author is a very keen'arid discerning student of tho varied light and sliado of middle-class lifo .in London. Tho heroine wars with success against the disabilities of her earlier environment,, for she becomes a high school mistress, nover .losing, however, that sound practical common senso which is so often an accompaniment of a youth of "hard times." Her lover, Wilmot Fane, belongs to a slightly higher social grade, for tho Fanes are "villa peoplo," whereas tho Krewsers are of the small shopkeeper class. Truth to tell, Joanna deserved a stronger, finer figure for her lover than the wqak-willed, selfconscious young man who goes . off to Paris and narrowly escapes a vulgar intrigue with a third-rate actress. But Joanna loves him, and although foolish fellow tries to poison hiril'iself he -recovers, and no doubt the maternal element in' his wife's love would always keep her fairly happy. "The Heart of Joanna" is a story much above the average, and is well- worth reading, if only for its satiric touches on certain social and sectarian shams and /hypocrisies. ' THE HUMOURS OF CARDENINC. Mr. Barry Pain has been beforo tho public a good many years now as a professional humourist, but he is as amusing as over in his short .stories and sketches. His latest effort is entitled : "Edward, the Confessions of a Jobbing Gardener" (T. Wernor Laurie). Tho British jobbing gardener figures very regularly in "Punch" and similar periodicals. His vast capacity for doing as littlo as possible and making much fuss about it,. the said fuss being intended to convey tho impression that there is but one honest and industrious man of his profession. in t'lio wholo world, and that his employer should consider himself marvellously lucky in having secured tho services 'of such a genius, has often been the subjcct of humorous satire. Here in Mr. Pain's book one of tho fraternity makes open confession ~of'the tricks of the trado, and indulges incidentally in many slj kits at the ignorance—or, in his opinion, quits unfair shrewdness—of the employers. '(Price, Is. 3d.) SHORTER NOTICES. Mr. Ranger Gull's story, "Tho Monstrous Enemy" (Werner Laurie), with its generous—somewhat over-gener-ous—supply of melodramatic incidents, attempted murders, an abduction •. by aeroplane, conspirators assembled in underground caverns, and so forth —has surely been written with a view to reproduction in a kincmatograph film. Those who like their fiction full flavoured may enjoy tho story, but "Liber's" palate for this kind of fiction was long ago permanently jaded.

' Dnnniohr of tho Guards," by Mulvi_l Ouseley (J. M. Ouslcy and Son, per Yvhitcombo jind Tombs), is by tho aiir thor of "Kitty and tlio Viscount," which, so I learn from a publisher's announcement, was "tho most popular novel of 19051" Tho author's latest effort is an extraordinary production, resembling moro than anything I have road of late one of the highly melodramatic stories which found, many years ago, such favour with readers of the '"London Journal" and "Bow Bolls." Tho heroine, an innocent aiid much-suffering woman, is. driven from her home bv her husband, a soldier-baronet, who believes her to liavo been unfaithful to him. Tho pair are happily reunited, but only after a long spell of years. Tho plot is involved, and tho story at times becomes more tedious than interesting.

Anything by tho author of that beautiful story "The Lady of t'lie Decoration," is sure to bo well worth reading. Mrs. Little's latest story—which, like its predecessors, has a Japanese sotting—is entitled "Thei House of the

Misty Star" (Hoddcr and Stoughton, per S. and W. Mackay). Tho plot turns upon tho return to Japan and to a Japanese grandmother, of a young lady, tho child of an American father and a Japaneso mother. Tho slangy young lady from Seattle naturally finds tho atmosphoro of her new hoino sornevliat uncongenial, and on the side ol her Japanese relatives there is equal misunderstanding and lack of sympathy. The story of Zura. Wingato's trials and its happy ending is told with an agreeablo melange of sentiment and quiet humour, by an American lady toacher, a spinster of sixty. A slight but pleasing story.

A recent addition to Mr. John Long's Shilling Library is a now edition of Mr. Victo L. Whitochurch's excellent story of English vilago life, entitled "Off tho Main Road," which proves that Iho author of tho popular "Canon in Residenco" has a fine grip of both the humorous and pathetic sido of tural life. To Mr. John Long's "sevenpennies," in which so many uood tit'es are to be met, has been added Mr. J. S. Fletcher's highly sensational story (reviewed at length in these columns on its first appearance), "Tho Ransom for Ltmdon." Now "sixpennies" from tho samo publisher are "The Burden of Youth," by Mrs._ L. T. Meado, and "Woman tho Sphinx," by the ex-New Zcalandor, Mr. Fergus Hume, now, as of yore, at his best when telling a 6tory in which the interest is dominantly sensational. All these books aro highly suitable for reading in train or steamer.