The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-12 00:00:00

LI rERATURE.

Raymond's Heroine.

o-
Three vols.

Hurst and

Blackett.

Very seldom does a novel open more auspiciously
than does this new tale of " Raymond's Heroine."
The first few chapters, which give a key to the
after history, are inimitable, and would do credit
to the efforts of the most practised novel writer.
No name is given on the title-page, and yet we can
hardly regard the work as that of an unpractised
hand. In any case, it reflects high credit upon its
author, and augurs well for his or her future repu-
tation. It falls to our lot to turn over the pages of
so many uninteresting and indifferent compositions
that it is to us a positive pleasure when we can, as
in the present instance, award to a new novel our
very cordial and unqualified commendation.
The character of the heroine Raymond's
Heroine—is quite an original conception, and her
distinctive peculiarities are most skilfully preserved
throughout the entire history, notwithstanding the
wonderful transformation that befalls her in every
outward circumstance. The first book is entitled
" Minnie," and in it we find her a charming little,
blue-eyed girl of six years old, the daughter of John
Haroldson of Black Moor farm, the spoiled dar-
ling of a rough, impetuous father—a frank,
self-willed, high-spirited, but withal tender-
hearted child. In the second book, signifi-
cantly entitled " Minnie," the adopted daughter of
the rich and worldly-minded Mrs. Fanshawe,
fond of pleasure and riches and admiration, still
remains, notwithstanding the evil influences of edu-
cation and association, the same both in her good and
evil characteristics, still frank and impetuous, still
capricious and self-willed. One of the chief merits
of the delineation is its apparent truthfulness.
Minnie is neither an angel nor the reverse, but is
full of good impulses and intentions, and full
also of faults and caprices, like (will our fair
readers forgive us ?) many others of her fair
sisterhood. The character of John Haroldson,
the rough farmer of the Black Moor, is very vigo-
rously portrayed. His tender affection for his
darling little daughter changed into bitterness, when
he believes her to be estranged from him, is depicted
with life-like fidelity. The very natural outburst
of passion against the man who has wronged him
is, like too many such fits of temporary moral mad-
ness, productive of evil consequences that over-
shadow all his after-life. One of the best characters
in the book is perhaps that of old Captain Pullyn,
the merchant captain, the humble, hearty
friend of the Haroldsons, suffering like them in
a common calamity, but undismayed by dan-
ger or difficulty whether on sea or laud,
genial and jovial, and gentle-hearted from first to
last. The despicable Walter Lee and his worthy
partner in iniquity, the noble-minded Raymond and
the worldly Mrs. Fanshawe, the gambling, dis-
sipated Lord Fitz-John, and his scheming disap-
pointed mother, all these and many of the minor
characters are portrayed in true and distinctive
colours. They are each and all individual portraits.
Mr. Fanshawe we cannot but reg,►rd as too
much of a nonentity. His silence, his stupidity,
and his subserviency are certainly carried a
little too far. We are disposed to give some ex-
tracts from the very admirable opening of the story,
in which, as in a dissolving view, a sweet picture of
domestic life becomes transformed imperceptibly
into the background of a tragedy, but we fear by
so-doing to mar the interest of a very interesting
story. We will content ourselves, therefore, with
a recommendation to our readers to seek for them-
selves the pleasant acquaintance of " Raymond's
Heroine," fully assured that they will be grateful to
us for an introduction to a very clever and delight-
ful book.