SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2824, 15 July 1916, Page 6

SOME RECENT FICTION

"The Old Road from Spain." i Tho Iluddlostons of Thorns, .a little village up amongst tho AVestmoreiand fells, have a Spanish strain in their blood, a strain, which sometimes.'bleaks out in.a curious, though by the persons nffcetod, not easily TGcognised. lack of sympathy with tho spirit of their environment. In'her latest stqry, "Tho Old Koad from Spain" (Mills a'nd Boon; per Whitcombo and Tombs), Miss Constance Holm tells how liowlcy ami Luix Iluddleston aro each affected by the Spanish strain in their heredity. It is a strango but beautiful story, closing in tragedy, and suffused by a flavour of tho supernatural— there aro somo Spanishbred sheep, for instance, which by llieir curious behaviour gavo warnings of death bo a Huddleston —whieli adds to the mystery which surrounds tho old hall and inmates. Tho characters of tho two ill-fated brothers aro cleverly contrasted, and tho local colour is picturesque and convincing. "The House of War." No English writer belter iindorstands tho Eastern, and especially tho Mohamlnedan, world belter than does Sir. Marmaduko I'ickthall, whoso "Said, tho Fisherman" was such an excellent novel. In his latest story, "Tho House of War" (Eveleigh Nash; per Whitcombe anil Tombs), Mr. Pickthall shows how easily productivo of strife and bloodshod can bo the well-meant but miachiorous efforts