The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-23
New Novels.

GWENDoLNE's HARVEST, by the author OF"
sBeggar on Horseback = &c. New York: Hare
per Brothers.
The prolific author Of this book, and ofi:s
numerous companions, seems to 6ndit very
difficult to learn the lesson which his Eng.
lish critics. at least, have with commendable
Gnauimity been endeavoring to teach him.
AS he continues to write novels we suppose
he must find some persons silly enough to
read them. For ourselves, we confess to
greatly begrudging the time which, in an hour
of weakness, we have bestowed upon his last
production. "Gwendoline's Harvest" is ut
terly vapid and insipid, in spite of having a
BrinviIliers for its heroine, and Newgate
Calendar for its chapter Of incidents. With
out artistic skill, knowledge of human ma
ture, or grace Of style, our readers may have
imagined it impossible to write novel. We
can only say, read 'Gwendolne's Harvest"
and acknowledge your mistake.
STERN NECESSITY. A novel, by F. W. Robin
son, author of "Poor Humanity" Fer Her
Sake" DC. New York: Harper & Brothers
Mr.. Robnson's novels are not deficient in
certain sort of originality, nor are they
lacking in force and spirit. Their fault is,
perhaps, chiefly want ofinvention and i'm
agination, which has the effect Of making
their machinery seem somewhat cumbrous
in comparison with the results achieved
They are interesting, but they are also dis
appointing. The dranaatis persona do not
quite come up to their suggestions, and are,
at best, but tantalizlng possibilities. He is
most successful in his sketches of humble
life in London, which he seems to have care
fully studied. The present novel is fair
average specimen of his work, and is pleas
ant enough reading.
KLMENY. A novel, by william Black, author
of "Love or Marriage" "In Silk Attire. y
New York: Harper & Brothers.
Mr.. Black is fast winning his way to q
high position among the minor noyelists of
the day. His novels are fresh, bright and
vigorous in o remarkable degree, and as o
raconteu, he has merits OF very high order.
His characters are canoes, sharply and deli
cately cut. his dialogue is at once cleverer
and more natural than that Of most OF his
colleagues; and his novels have always the
advantage Of presenting in an attractive and
crystalized form some. social or aesthetic
theory, which invests them with an individ-
uality Of their own, and differentiates them
thoroughly from the mass. To those readers
who do not care ITO sup full OF horrors" the
refined intellectualism OF his books will afford
q grateful contrast to the usual fare provided
for the literary appetite OF the day, while
the lovers Of mere storytelling will find in
his pages ample satisfaction for their wants.
'.Kilmeny" is worthy successor to Glove
or Marriage" and 'In Silk Attire two of
the most charming and original novels of
the last decade. The sketch of Bonnie
sLeslie,n the brilliant blonde with the i'm
pressible shallow nature, which, tliked bet
."ter falling in love than being in love-" is
marked from first to last by the authors pc
culiar delicacy and suggestiveness. There
is a s'wistful dreaminess" about the whole
book which is infinitely attractive, and
which ought to make it great favorite in
these languid summer days.
All the above novels can be found at Rus
sells.