SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

"The Story of a New Zealand River." Por a first novel "by ,a young author, "Tho Story of a-New Zealand Biver,' by Jane Mander (John Lano; per Whitcombe nnd Tombs),' is astonishingly strong in its technique; indewl, the story might well pass as the matured work of au experienced novelist. Tho author, who, by the way, is tho daughter.of a muchrejected member of tlio Isew. Zealand Parliament, went to America some three 01- four years ago, and took high academical honours before she engaged in war work. Her novel copies under tile category of "6ex-problem" fiction, arid' has for its scenario ono of the timber ami kauri gum districts in the North Auckland peninsula. ■ Although a certain amount of local colour is introduced with picturesque 'effect, it is never obtruded or unduly, emphasised, ns is -it>o often the caso in fiction of Australian and New Zealand origin. Miss Mander's story deals primarily with the problem of an unhappy union, and depicts- tho heart struggles of a married woman, Annie Poland., who finds in tho friendship and affection of her husband'.') pawner, Bruce, a relief from the monotony of. her life with a man with whom intellectually ,sho has nothing in common. - Though sorely tempted she remains a faithful wife, and lives to see her daughter, Asia, revolt ngainst tile same rigid conventionalities and drab environment she herself had found so trying. .The story now develops inifo a powerful psychological study in which maternal affection and influence do not always pull in unison with the modern spirit which tho daughter somewhat precociously develops. It would'be unfair to the author to set forth the final outcome of tlio 'struggle ill which mot'lier nnd daughter become involved. Suffice it to eay that tho story,' ntlhough perhaps-a trifle over lengthy, contains some exceptionally clever character drawing, and is on a par, in'.its literary merits alone quite apart from tlie interest of the plot, with some of the Ijest recent English and American fiction; If Miss Mander'can

maintain tlio high eWindiml hero sot silo should have u bright and successful future as a novelist..

"An Imperfect Mother."

There aro traces of :i Freudian iniluence in Jlr. J. D. lieresford's latest novel, ''An Imperfect Mother" (W. Collins, Son, and Co.); indeed there are limes when tho psychologist 6eems ilo elbow tho inero story-toller out of tho narrative although in is tho story-teller who is 'finally dominant. Jlr. Lieresford's heroine,, if heroine so selfish a woman as Cecilia Kirkwood could properly bo esteemed to be, is at 42 tho still handsome wife of a bookseller in a Country town.'- She'has long been in rebellion against her environment and finally, although tho mother of ft boy and two girls, all in their later teens, falls in love, and elopes with iUio local organist.' The son, old enough to understand' the < tiiHuatijoii, endeavours to bring her back to her husband, a poor spiritless creature," but fails, greatly to his disgust. Later on, tho son becomes an .-rehitect, makes a'name for himself in his profession, and, going up io London, meets his mother, still handsome and now on flio stage, tho ex-organist being now a successful composer 'of musical comedy music. The mother makes a desperate attempt to reeapturo the eoniideneo and affection of her son, and partially succeeds. Her jealousy of Ulie girl with whom tho sou is in love introduces, however, a discordant element, and it is tho girl's inlluenco which is victorious. One cannot help thinking that Jlr. Berosford at first intended his story to have a different ending, and thero is a certain loss of strength "and convincing 'qiiality as it nenrs its conclusion. But the character drawing, is as sure and firm as it was in Jlr. . lieresford's famous "Jacob Stahl" trilogy, and in tliail yet earlier and romarlfahlo book, "Tlio'Houso in Demetrius Koad." "An. Imperfect Alother . "will appeal to -all who enjoy really artistic fiction. ' .

"The Fortieth Door," . "Tho Fortieth Door," by Mary Hastings Bradley (D. Appleton and Co., N.Y. per AVhitcombo and Tombs), is a wellwritten, very exciting rorimnco of modern Egypt. The hero, Jack Ryder, a young America n, engaged in archaeological research, falls in love' with a masked ■ lady whom ho meets at a fancy dress ball in Cairo. She is supposed to bo tho daughter of a'leading pasha, who, for purposes,' "arranges" her marriage wit!h an elderly and ugly Egyptian general. JTareem laws are strict, and liareem. walls high and thick, but lovo laughs at locksmiths, and eventually tho young lady, who turps out'.to bo the daughter of a long-missing French engineer and scientist, manages to escape, and tile final scene, in an exciting drama is played out. in the desert, where the .escapefl is passed off as. mummy, and assisted fo make her way to France, where sho has inherited a largo fortune,'.tho archaeologist hero, of course, being duly rewarded, as a young and lovely woman could best reward a devoted lover, by the gift of her hand. Tho local colour is pleasantly picturesque, and the ivholo story very readable. . ■ A Good "Dotective.," I Edgar Wallace's latest story, "Jack i O'.Tudginent" (Ward, Lock .and Co., per Wlvitcombo and Tombs), possesses exceptional qualities for a "detective." Colonel Dan .Boundary, the chief figure in tho . gang of cosmopolitan rascals who are run to earth by tlie mysterious.masked man • who , styles himself. Jack '.. O'Judgment, but who is. in reality, l .a liighl.v-plaeecl official of tTio Criminal Investigation Department, is a most engaging scoundrel, possessed of so mticli wit and resourceful courage that it seems a, grievous pity hp should have devoted to crime qualities which would probably have won him high. distinction in any honest calling. ' As a ; first-class "thriller" Jlr. Wallace's latest story can bo confidently recommended.