Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-23
Miss Frances G. Fisher "Christfan
Retd.o

Mics Frances G. Fisher IL, without doubt,
the best society novelist that the South has
ever produced. She has not the terseness or
| originality Of Miss Reeves, but her merits as
| a siory-teler are very pronounced, and have
| been abuudantly evidenced by the popularity
| of her books The leading characteristics
| of her style are grace and refinement, en-
| HANGED by fluent command of language
drawn from "wellB OF English undefled."
| Her plots are always entertaining, her situa-
tions are never involved or STACEY, and the
movements and motives OF her characters
are invariably in accordance with that arts
tocratic sphere 10 which most of them be-
long. Miss Fisher has been long and favora-
bly, known to the public under her nom de
plume of "Christian Reid" She is the eldest
daughter of Colonel Charles F. Fisher, q
gallant officer, who was killed at tue nrst
battle of Manassas. Miss Fisher Is native
of Salisbury, N. c., and resides IN that village
with her aunt anc sister. The family are
devout Roman Catholics, and are e1-
elusive in their tastes and sympathies,
warm Southerners in their opinions, and Pc
culiarly intellectual and refined. Miss
Fi,heris first book was called Valerie Aytnaer,
and was published by the Appletons IN 1870.
The New York Euning Post made the fol-
lowing genial and just comments on II:
"Valeric Aylner is undenlably quite cnarm-
ing. The plot interests and the style delights
az. There is much excellence in its dramatic
construction and in its delineation OF char
acter. and as literary work il is altogether
worthy of praise. Christian Reld, the
pseudonymous author, betrays on almost
every page a wide acquaintance with lltera-
tare-not that encyclopedia pedantry wnlcn
is 90 wearisemely manifested by certain pop
ular novelists, and which range from the
Talmud to Tenpyson, but an easy familiarity
with the authors and a love Tor whatever In
them is pure and lovely, and OF good re-
portn Valerie Alymsr may be taken as
hair indication OF Miss Fishers excellence
as an uuthoz, although / prefer one or FRO
of her late novels. She is prolihc writer,
and the Messrs. Appleton have issued, seri-
ally and in book form, the following works
from her pen: Morton, House, in 1872; Mabel
Lee, Ebb- Tide and Other Stories, the same year;
Mna's Atonenent, and Other Stories, |
in 1874; A Question of Honor and |
Hearts and Hands, ia 1875; The Land |
OF the SKY; or Adventures IN Noun |
tam By Ways in 1876; Bonny Kate. in 1879.
Miss Fisher has written, in addition TO the
sbove list, Cdrmen's Inheritance, After Many
Days, Rosslyn's Fortunes, and number OF
briefer tales. 1t is . special gift, in which
many great writers are deficient, to be able
TO make a short story almoss as entertaining
as long one; and Miss Fisher il entitled to
praise for the interest and sprightliness she
infuses into her best efforts in this line. Her
descriptions of scenery are also admirable,
and those who never travelled in the lovely
region of South Carolina would do
we'll 10 read her Land Of the Sky-the next
best thing to seeing the Landscapes them
selves. The faithful novel-reader will like
The book none the less because slight plot,
some pleasant characters and a few agreeable
love passages enliy. n the routine of travel.
AS proof of Mise Fishers undiminished
as novelist, 1 have only to cite
The testimony of an acute observer, who
recently visited the circulating library OF
Atlanta with view to discover what authors
are most widely read in that rising city OF
The South. The Atlanta correspondent writes
as follows: "Of our Southern nevelists,
Christian Reid is in such. demand that l
could find but one of her books, and 1t showed
, list of sixteen readers"