The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-12
BOOK Talk AND GOSSIP.
The Up-to- Date Literature OF
These Times.
WHAT BOOKSELLERS ARE SHOWING
Interesting New Novels by George
Ebers, Justin Mccarthy, Laurence
Alma Tadema and Sigmund Ii. Alex
ander Ready for Summer Readers.

Alma Tadema and Sigmund Ii. Alex
ander Ready for Summer Readers.
Laurence Alma Tadema is new writer,
but IL "The Wings OF lcarus" Is, as has
been said, simply promise OF the greater
things to be, the name of the author will
soon be familiar enough. This
new novel, which has just
been published by Macmillan a.
Co., is one OF those stories that are always
interesting IL they are not overdrawn and
artificial. 1t is study of the inner work
ings of the human heart, and II the
motives of a soul were ever laid bare IT
has been done in ''The Wings OF Icarus."
Icarus was the man who made wings and
thought to soar upon them, but when he
approached the sun the heat melted
the wax with which they We're
fastened to his body and he
sank back to earth and was
drowned. But as he sunk in the deep sea
two lessons were waited back to such
men as would receive them and it
is these lessons that the young
author has attempted to teach
in this book. 1t is a novel subject and it
is admirably handled. The thoughts
the aspirations, the remorse that
could scarcely have been perfectly
emphasized in a connected narrative has
been embodied in series of letters and
and in these the sad story has
been told in such a natural manner that
the reader closes the book with the feel
ing that he has been intimately acquaint-
ed with Emilia Fletcher.
There is nothing unreal about this study
~ souls. 1t Is story OF events that
might have happened anywhere and at
any time and If at times the
reader feels as IL he breads to
turn the next page for fear of the words
that he may read, this is but the result of
q good story told in an intensely natural
and interesting manner.
The little work is printed and bound in
a manner particularly appropriate to the
story.
ssTHE WINGS oF.IcARus- by Laurence Alma
Tadema New York: Macmillan a. Co., 1894.
IL. Gregory has IT, Price, Si.@5.
In writing "Cleopatra," George Ebers
was actuated by the desire to prove that
the sentimental love of our day was not un-
known to the pagan world. The greatest
example of this affection is found in the
case of the sublime lovers, the great
Antony and the beautiful gypsy of
the Nile. This love, which continued
until death came to separate the
man from the woman has been immortal
ized in prose and verse and art, but not
the least interesting OF these works is
Ebers' nove..
To one who IS acquainted with the story
OF the royal lovers and who is aware of the
deep psychological problem that must
TO present q fair likeness of the
Egyptian Queen the work will need
nc Introduction. To those who know
less of the subject one might say that
while the study is somewhat ideal it is
Mt the same time practical and the
reader who carefully studies its pages
will be able to obtain more perfect
picture of the time and the people,
as well as the motives that were be-
hind the actions of the characters who
played such an important part on this
stage of life than history itself could
ever give.
Ebers has taken the statement OF every
historian, and having decided just what
they are worth has woven an ap-
propriate romance for them. The
perfect realism and local coloring
of his historical novels is already too
we'll known to need any introduction.
and Cleopatra Is no exception.
1t is q charming story, with
an ant sns blot os s carried d
sires to escape for the nonce from the
inanity that Is too characteristic of the
everyday novel.
York: ID. Appleton Il Co., 1894 III. Greg
ory has 1t. In two vols.
"a Moral Blot" is a story OF the love
sffairs OF young man who writes parallels
for weekly paper in Boston.
Besides this, he falls in love
with very charming young
woman and when she, on account of
Misunderstanding, leaves him to marry a
man old enough to be her father he
promptly takes up with burlesque ac-
tress, forsakes the right path and wan
deres in the ways of the wicked. The
result OF this course of folly is that he
contracts consumption and dies, while the
two women who have made up the pleas
ure and the pain of his life effect a recon-
ciliation beside his dead body.
Sigmund b. Alexander may not be a
new writer, but one would imagine that
he was q novice by reading his new work
While IL Is intensely entertaining it is not
real. People in Bohemia do not use the
words that he has placed in the mouth of
his characters, and some OF the actions are
decidedly unnatural. The interest OF the
reader Is kept up by the uncertainty of
the plot, however, and it is just the kind
OF story that will delight the modern
reader OF fiction.
" A MORAL BLoT.r by Sigmund B. Alexan-
der. Boston: The Arena Publishing Co,
1894 AL booksellers have il.
The name of Justin Mccarthy is a suf-
dcient assurance of the merit ofany work,
but outside of this recommendation the
"Red Diamond" is we'll worth reading. IL
Is a strange story new enough TO be
striking and written with an originality
OF touch that makes it most attractive.
There is mystery enough in il to satisfy
the most desperate craving for
sensation and there is life
and sentiment for the qualification
OF the romantic. In fact II is Just the
kind Of book to become popular for a sea-
SON. although 1t Is doubtful il even the
name OF Justin Mccarthy will give it any
permanent reputation.
Messrs ID. Appleton a. Co., have been
very fortunate in making selections of
works for their Town and Country Library.
and they nave succeeded in giving IL a
high rank among periodical publications
OF this kind. The selection OF such thor
oughly readable romances as Mr.. McCar-
thy's "Red Diamond" will only add TO the