The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-01
BOOK Talk AND GOSSIP.
The Up-to-Date Literature OF
These Times.
WHAT BOOKSELLERS are SHOWING
Benson's ssRubico on" a Novel That
Promises 20 BE More Popular Than
sDodo" = BoIdrewood's New Sea
Story.

EFF. Benson is one of the writer's whose
works are at present all the rage. They
are stories without purpose, unless, a
Miss Glider has suggested, 1t Is their pur-
pose TO show that London society IS rot
ten TO the core. The character of "Dodo'
ID said to have been a portrait OF Miss
Margot Tennant, and as Mr.. Benson Is
given to this uncomfortable habit OF draw
ing his characters from life, there Is no
reason to doubt the statement that Lady
Hayes is recognized in the higher society
ssThe Rubicon" is similar work to
sDodo," although the story is better
from an artistic point OF view, with plot
that is carried out more perfectly. Lady
Hayes, while more cruel, is not as silly as
Dodo, but her nature is just as thoroughly
bad as any OF Mr.. Benson's creations.
The novelist, In fact, seems TO delight i'll
painting unlovsble men and women, and
the claim that he represents society in
london as it really is, is certainly far
from complimentary to the society people.
Eva Grampound is thoroughly blase
young woman who marries Lord Hayes to
procure the advantages of wealth ana
social position that she could not other
wise attain. On the wedding trip he picks
up JimsArmine, q man whose love making
is not at all distasteful to her and
he is her faithful attendant for some time.
The young woman treats her husband,
whom she detests, and her mother in law
whom she hates, in the most abominable
manner and during the remaining chap
ters OF the book she adds other masculine
scalps to those that are already hanging
ut her belt.
Mr.. Benson's disposal OF Lady Hayes ia
somewhat out OF keeping with the other
portions of the book, being more appro-
PIRATE for a distinctly sensational novel,
but In other respects the story is one that
may be true to life.
While the larger proportion of the
characters are not at all attractive they
appear to be real and that is the greatest
charm of Mr.. BeDson's books. They are
not particular striking as original crea-
tions but they appeal TO the reader as
actual portraits of people in that higher
walk OF socisty with which the novelist
deals.
Mr.. Benson's treatment OF his story is
excellent and his style is one that will
attract the average reader. In fact he may
be said to be one OF the most promising of
the modern school of English realistic
novelists end the success of his work was
assured before the first copy left the press.
"THE RuBfcoN.- by r. r. Benson. New York:
ID. Appleton 60 1894. IL. Gregory has it,
: :
The lovers OF stories OF the sea, stories
that deal with the strange adventures OF
the bold mariners in foreign countries
will be delighted with Rolf Boldre-
woods new book. "a Modern Buc-
caneer,o which has Just been issued
by Macmillan a. Co. The book il
story of incidents and experiences rather
than OF plot There is a certain line of
plot, however, running through the book,
binding the incidents together, but it
is the plot that might be found in the
diary OF any seaman who had passed
through such experiences.
Boldrewood is certainly an entertaining
writer and his descriptions OF South Sea
Island life and people are remarka bly
realistic and vivid. The characters he i'm
troduces are thoroughly interesting, even
when they are positively brutal, and
while his style may sometimes be re-
garded as too disconnected, IL is al
ways crisp and entertaining. Those who
take up the book, therefore, will be un-
willing to leave II until they have seen
the last of the "majestic figure OF the
ties, grand in his fearless courage, his
generosity, his friendship-grande even ia
his vices" man who resembled "yet
more famous corsair
"'Who died and left name TO other times,
linked with one virtue and a thousand |
crimes.''
"A MODERN BuccANEER," by Rolf Boidre-
wood New York: Macmillan d. Co., 1894. ii. |
Gregory has 1t. Price 81.
The dainty little "Temple Shakespeare
which is being issued by Macmillan &
Co., has reached the third volume, the
Gentlemen OF Verona" and "Merry Wives
OF Windsor" Besides the attractive
and artistic appearance of the little vol
umes, their value is enhanced by the ex-
cellent engrayings and etchings that APP
pear in each book. A fine reproduction
n he hnp rfrof al t..t o |
first volume, while the weil-known
Chandos portrait and Turner's picture OF
the Shakespeare bust in Stratford Church
illustrate the last two books. Students
1.-THE great Bard of Avon cannot fail to
appreciate the efforts of Macmillan * Co.
to present an artistic and handy edition
of the famous plays.
"1HE TEMPLE sBAKEspEARE.n Vols. | and
III, New York: Macmillan * Co, 1894. H.
Gregory has them. Price As cents each.
Z Z
The cipher story in Shskespeare's plays
and the controversy that has resulted from
the many attempts 10 prove the BRconian
authorship OF the works have furnished
the world with many readable volumes.
While the average reader may be inclined
to take the many Arguments with a grain
OF salt, there are few lovers of the poems
who have not followed the controversy
with interest.
An entirely new cipher Is now said to
have been discovered by Orville w. owen,
M. d., OF Detroit, Mich, and the result OF
his Investigation will shortly appear in
three volume work entitled, 'tSir Francis
Bacon's Cipher Story" The first volume
closes with the death of Elizabeth, but
her intrigues with Robert Dudley are
more fully considered in the second
story OF the Armada.
Whatever value the work may have as
cipher study 1t ir said to be OF the greatest
historical interest.
J : I
The photographs that have been taken
by the members OF the American Photo
graphic Society during their travels in
this and other countries are about to be
published by Harry Q. Jones OF New York.
A. these photographs have been repro.
duced by the half-tons process from the
plant OF the Quarterly illustrator their
superior merit IL assured. The text in
'Camera Mosaics," the title of the work.
Will be from the pens OF such well knnrn |