“PRECIOUS BANE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1929, Page 5

“PRECIOUS BANE.”

", (To the r Sir, —Do- any >of your. r|Sders know the name of the jviiter (ff| the .above book ? All that one know||s that her first name was Mary, and that she was the wife of Mr Webb. Precious, " Bane ” took the. ,£2,000 prize for the best noVel ,of its; year. Though little known/ in its Way it, is a ffiassic, and . beats' -unmistakably thegilstamp of genius. It is not easy to s§[f just what i entitles a novel to rank |||mong the wOrlM&i masterpieces. Eve||| novel is a condensed of life, ,ft|id one feature at all events'.common to fiction of the highest 'classes the ? thorough, minute, complete,' ekact and; convincing revelation of human nature and character, which The arthbf tlibvjvriter presents' as/'clearly 'and vhdtlly to the reader as a blinding flash of lightning on a pitch dark night illuminates for, an the surroundihg’landscape. This merit “ Precious Bane ” possesses. Incidentally, also, in Prudence Sarn— Prudence of the ?. harO-shotted lip—are . exemplified the virtues on which English national character has been labori- - ously built up—courage, patience, selfreliance,'practical common sense, modesty, loyalty and devotion. In places the book makes terrible reading, and few would care to go through it twice, but it will undoubtedly take its place among “ Catriona,” “ Les M.iserables,” “ Tess oif the D’Urbervilles,” “ Redgauntlet,” and “Wuthering Heights.” One feels therefore, that one would like to know the real name of the gifted author, especially as already the silver cord is loosened, and the golden bowl is broken, and Mrs Webb will write no more. I am, etc., M. ■ Hokitika, 30th October, 1929.