The Portland daily press., 1895-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

have received Grant Allen " AT Market
Value" Rachel Dene'' by Robert Bu-
chanan; and 'tThe One Too Many" by
Mrs. E. Lynn Linton, each with por-
trait of the author. 1t is rather striking
Buchanan in their prefaces discourage the
pursuit of literature and consider the
writer of stories as member of the poor
est and least satisfactory of all profess
ions. !" Both stories here catalogued are
of the sort to obtain large sales though
that need not alter the verdict of these
authors anent their calling.
'sAt Market Value follows the fortunes
of young English Earl who goes through
| life incognito in order that he may escape
artificial standards in business and So
ciety, may contribute solid work to the
| there is in him, not for qualities supposed
| to exist by right of title and position.
very delightful young American, rich and
| thorough gentleman, the sort of man
we rarely see depicted in English ro-
nance, lovely English girl, her fighty
brother and his bourgeoise girl-wife are
the leading characters, with MAMA
and an English prelate and his wife as
background The scene divides itself be-
tween London and Venice. cat Market
Value" is written with movement and
vivacity and carries excellent incentives
to worth for it's own sake under a mar
rative free from all preachiness. Indeed,
Reggie and his gaieties give a lively
tang to many of the pages otherwise de-
voted to the cultivation of the worth
while side of life
In Rachel Dene we have somewhat
melodramatic presentation of the careers
of two young men who start out in life,
one weak and vacillating, the other with
all the highest principles well applied.
This contrast does not continue to SO
marked an extent. Indeed, faults multi
ply even with own lad who meant to dc
the right thing. The early introduction
actually confuses one on Js-Jack, Jasper,
Jabez, Joan, Jael and Jacob. Once place
these and the tale moves on apace, and
is story full of incidents and of fateful
happenings. "The Feast of St. Leger'
is graphically drawn. If throughout the
story fine shading is lacking, it is YET
sufficiently stirring to while away sum
mer afternoon when diversion is an object
to be diligently sought and novel is part
of the play,
"The One Too Many" is hardly success
full in it's object which is to disgust youns
women with fin de .siecle rowdiness il
the hitherto fair sex, because the coun
terfoil in character, "Moira West wh'
marries an English "Good Match ant
becomes his unhappy slave is too veal
and submissive to draw sympathy to her
self. An uniformed girl would be apt tt
wish to throw in her lot with Effie tn,
emancipated than with .Moira thu
manacled. Refinement is notably absent
throughout the story but f1uency and
sparkle go far to furnish other drawing
cards. (F. Tennyson Neely, Publisher
Chicago and New York
/ Kitty's Engagement, novel. By Flor
ence Warden, author of s1The House or
The Marsh etc. Readers of this author
are prepared in advance for murder and
the working of uncanny influences and
will find them in the present volume.
The plot is complicated and it's working
out at times is somewhat blood d-curdling.
A sweet, it not especially forceful young
girl, is left large fortune under certain
conditions which her guardian is to full
fl in order that she may be protected
/ f,.r,,, fort17 1,1,,
method to be employed invites the very
difficulties it would avoid The love
story is an effective one and the book is
readable and vigorous. New York: D.
Appleton & Co.; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony
The Wish, a novel. By Hermann Sud
ermann translated by Lily Henkel, with
a Biographical introduction by Elizabeth
Lee. Unlike most introductions theEpres
ent preface is critical of it's author and
sets forth his literary equipment with
here and there something of structure OF
modification. The biographical notes OIL
really valuable. We should approve them
entire did they omit bit of resume OIL
the story in hand with rather full quota.
tion. We confess to an old fashioned, per
haps child-l like preference, to no ones tell.
ing story except the author himself
Sudermann is modern and is classed
with Kipling, Barrie; Marguerite and
Provost; Maeterlink, Hauptmann and
Fulda. The WISH is one of his shorter
studies. No one can plunge into it's reci-
tai without at once recognizing bril-,
liancy and talent 80 dazzling as to be al.
most painful. Here is an artists touch.