Have You Read This?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 14

Have You Read This?

PULVIS ET UMBRA WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. —“Ejinond.” WUliani Makepeace Thackcraj tlßll- - one of our greatest novelists, iva* born at Calcutta and educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College. Cambridge. He left without taking a degree. entered the Middle Temple, abantloned Law for journalism and fiction. His early work —“ Catherin e,” “A Shabby Genteel Story.’ * The Great Hoggarty Diamond“ Barry Lyndon, and so on—was moderately successful ; but real fame came to him with \Ue publication , in 1847-48, of “Vanity fair.” Thence onward, he took his place beside Dickens as one of the greatest literary figures of his lime; and his reputation was strengthened by ■ Pendennis.” "Esmond." "The Scivcomes” and “The Virginians .”

AS Esmond and the dean walked away from Kensington discoursing of this tragedy, and how fatal it was to the cause which they both had at heart; the btreet-criers were already out with their broadsides, shouting through the town the full, true, and horrible account of the death of Lord Mohun and Duke Hamilton in a duel. A fellow had got to Kensington, and was crying it in the square there at very early morning, when Mr Esmond happened to pass by. He drove the man from under Beatrix’s very window, whereof the casement had been set open. The sun was shining though 'twas November: he had seen the mar-ket-carts rolling into London, the guard relieved at the Palace, the labourers trudging to their work in the gardens between Kensington and the City—the wandering merchants and hawkers filling the air w r ith their cries. The world was going to its business again, although dukes lay dead and ladies mourned for them: and kings, very likely, lost their chances. So night and day pass away, and to-morrow comes, and our place knows us not. Esmond thought of the courier, now galloping on the north road to inform him who was Earl of Arran yesterday, that he was Duke of Hamilton to-day, and of a thousand great schemes, hopes ambitions, that were alive in the gallant heart, beating a few hours since, and now in a little dust quiescent.