SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

Thin in the find. . A distinctly original, and in ilil way quits fascinating story is Miss Stella Benson's second novel, "Tbis Is the End" (Macinillan and Co.). Miss Benson's 'first book, "I Pose," made a decided hit, and its Euc«6sor, although it may puzr.le some ?ood people not a little, should prove.a sheer delight .to those who can appreciate a. story in which fantasy and realism are go happily blended, and the literary style of which is so epigraramatio (perhaps too designedly so), and generally brilliant. The heroine is a young lady of good family and education, who, finding her ordinary environment too utterly banal and uninspiring, leaves homo and becomes a lady bus conductor, mixing with the people alike in her hours of work and leisure. Some pleasant fun is got out of the attempts of her relatives fo_ discover her whereabouts, and their mingled astonishment and exasperation at the young lady'a disappearance. I need not recount the plot, or what might pass for such, of the story, but can promise those of my readers who enjoy clever character sketching more than exciting incident a rare treat. The most 'amusing figure in the book is the heroine's cousin, Mrs. Gushis, a lady novelist, who is a. "best seller"' of the Charles Garvico aud Mrs. Barclay typo. Though perhaps a. triflo ill-natured, tho portrait is a masterpiece of ironic, humour and quiet satire. Miss Benson proves also that she understands what is true pathos as opposed to that sadly artificial sentiment which too often passes for sunh in latter-day fiction. Several of tho chapters are interspersed br verse, some of which is of a distinctly high order. T can warculv command "Tills Ts tho End" ns a singularly original and distinctly refreshing story. Reviews of several novels are held over until next week.