The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-03
BOOK TALK AND GOSSIP.
The Up-to- Date Literature OF
These Times.
WHAT BOOKSELLERS ARE SHOWING
s1Satherine Lauderdaie" and "a Costly
Freak, ,"are New Novels by Il. Marion
Crawford and Maxwell Gray--Ran-
dom Notes.


+. Marion Crawford has written new
story, and the critics have dipped thelr
pens In blood and have started IN 10 ehect
his total annihilation. The entire COM
pany, with but few exceptions, nnding
Il necessary TO expend their animus on
some one. have united TO make
Mr. Crawford the mark for their shafts OF
ridicule and abuse. IN she midst OF these
Trades. however, people are buying edition
after edition OF the book and what Is more
TO the point, they are finding II worthy OF
cOmmendation.
Strange as It may seem, people are not
nearly as anxious to have novel perfect
in all its artistic technicalities as they are
TO have IL interesting. This Is the one de-
mand made in regard TO modern flcton,
ali the critics to the contrary. III there is
one duty an author owes his readers IL is
TO interest them, and If he has done this,
little more is asked.
OF course a bed book cannot be COM
pared to "Katharine Lauderdale," for he
would be poor Judge indeed who would
apply the word "bad" to Mr.. Crawford's
latest work. The story is well written and
the many episodes OF the two volumes
which are crowded into five days are pre-
sented in a manner that denotes the true
artist.
1t may be admitted that it is poor art to
mid air, but ii must be remembered that
"Katharine Inuderdale" is but the first
book of series, all of which are to be
descriptive of actual New York life. IL
il even stated that the people
who are presented IN the
time in the best society Of the metropolis,
and that they are so carefully fait thfully
described that it is simple matter TO
identity them.
II this is true II enhances the interest in
very Interesting story. John Ralston is
somewhat wild young man, who Is in
love with his cousin, the fair heroine OF
the story, A secret marriage is proposed
in most novel manner and four days
later il is carried out.
A most interesting comedy OF errors fol-
lows. Ralston evidently is possessed of a
terrible temper and he exhibits it in such
o manner as to get him in no end of diff
culties. His bride OF q few hours distrusts
him and regrets the step that she has
taken, but when she meets her husband
at dinner party that evening she dis
covers that she has been mistaken. Kisses
and general SNAKE mp" follow and the
story ends.
As usual Mr.. Crawford has introduced
his readers to number OF very original
and very delightful characters. AS usual,
these unique people act In the most unex-
pected manner, and the book Is pleasant
the evening OF the fifth day. The reader
of the story will await the sequel with q
great deal Of interest.
"KATIIARINE LAUDERDALE," by II. Marion
isss Twc vos a" prse ST. Gsa e. Gregory has has
it.
"a Costly Freak" Is not by any means
poorly written story, but when il is finish
cd the reader is compelled to admit feel
ing of repret that the novel is the work OF
the author OF "The Silence of Dean
Maitland" Maxwell Gray, like many
other authors who have achieved great
things, finds 1t difficult II not impossible
so write up to that standard. While "The
Silence OF Dean Maitland" has been read
and remembered by thousands OF readers,
IA Costly Freak" will be read, because it
Is written by Maxwell Gray, and will then
be very promptly forgotten.
Notwithstanding all this, however, IL is
simple, pretty little story written in
light manner, with attempts at humor
that II often labored, are sometimes
genuine.
"a CosrIy FREAK" by Maxwell Gray, New
York York; d. Appleton d Go, 1884 IL. Gregory
I 7 7
s'The Tempest" which has lust been
Issued by Macmillan a. Co., as the first
volume III the Temple Shakespeare. is one
Of the most dainty little works that has
been published in many years. Every
thing about it is exquisite, and single
glance at the first volume warrants one to
predict the success OF the entire series.
series, New York. macmillan q Co. 1894.
Price 45 cents. IL. Gregory has it.
! I !
Among the novels which will appear
shortly in Appletons' Town and Country
IL V,rI.> -
"The Trespasser," by Gilbert Parker; and
"The Rubicon," by T.. 4. Benson, author
f of "Dodo."
GA Policy OF Free Exchange which
will soon be published by ID. Appleton &
Co., will be most important work. Vital
economic questions of the day are TO be
treated by recognized authorities.
" The Yellow Aster," which has proved
the most successful novel since "Dodo,p
was written by Mrs. Warrington Caffyn,
the wife OF London physician.
There is a stir in literary Paris and
London over the prospective publication
of the memoirs OF Napoleon's private sec
retary, the Baron de Moneval as it Is
expected that the work will correct other
writers on important historical points.
The first two editions OF "katharine
Lauderdale" were exhausted within
week of its publication, and q third edition
Is now being pushed forward.
"Nith the Wild Flowers Through
Summer, Spring and Autumn" by T. M.
Harding; "The Amateur Aquarist," by
Mark Samuel, and christianity Practi-
caliy Applied" win be issued by The
Baker 4 Taylor Company this month.
"Ihe Life of j. @. Holland" and BE
yond the Rockies" by Stoddard, are an
nounced by Scribner.
Edwin J.. Sbuman, OF the Chicago Jour
nal staff, has in press volume entitled.
"Steps Into journalism" which treats Of
newspaper work as n more or less exact