New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
CURRENT FICTION.


the nlSrAYl9!A rLATE p @fISa by J2n MN
THE PRINCESS AIINE. Hy Hcha-! Harding
DAVIS Harper 4 Hrothcrs.
SPORT ROYAL. .anl o,e~r Stories ny Anthony
Ho.- Henry Holt y c..
Man oF MARK. ny Anthony Hope. Henry
THE WOMAN WHO DID. By Grant Allen. hob
Hroth're
ENGlIAm EPISODES ny Frederick w,dmorc.
Imported hy ChAr.cs Scfiuners sons.
IA rETTE .I TAH2.SSE X Ao'9 ns,od n'aF
one cann,, avoid prejudice agalns, Tho His
p,u.oa Pntr" from the very start. Immediately
nf,er ;h preface apT'lrs an unsigned intr1 Iucton
headed a Sow Novelist" ari devoted to point
JOS. .u.og, = tho author. "" are toll that Tx"
"uaay o'h,r Enellshmcu % promir"uc" In these
lays b. :, married to an American woman II Is a
larce broad ed man. standing tx foot t"o
inches and quarter In his shoes. with dark. PIER:
ing eyes" We are a,so informed that 10 the his
ior!cal novel he bids fair 20 ouistrip Mr. woman
such Introduction fortunately prepare To" reader
against DISAPPOINTMENT The story 81 an exciting
aul sensational one reminding one not ~ Weyman
bat - Gunter. ana rnuckly. thor" IL just enough
similarity to Treasure Is'ani to exhibit the faith
oule-s space that separates S;evonsons genius from
Mr. Blourdellc- Burton's industry.
The Princess An"" is n pretty. Y not important
story. familiar to many readers ~ Harper The
book Is interesting not only in its"f but test
seems TO indicate that author is fully capable Of
writing a pleasant novel; the interest is well sus
tanei the dialogue il clever and the reader IS no,
borel by dispositions on sociology. philosophy or
religion.
Mr Hope IS making hay while the sun shines. in
the determination that the reading public shall not
lose. sight Of him. Admirers Of the prisoner Of
Zenda' and the Dolly Dialogues" VII. open these
new volumes eagerly. and Will surrey be dlsappolnt-
Cd sport Royal ts"lf IL delightfully."- impossible
narrative and exceedingly amusing. but thc other
stories In the little volume are d"plorably weak.
ON every page they bear IN" marks Of reckless
haste In composition and ~ forced inspiration. "A
Man OF VI. TX" IL more ambitious novel. combln-
Ing an exciting romance with Keen satire South
American politics. The rlscaly President OF the
Republic is wcl-drawn character Napoleonic in
resources. conscencccss In hnanciering and inn
perious In lovemaking The inside political history
Of the country Is told IN a comical Manner and yet
with undercurrent OF seriousness.
In n PREDATORY note the author Of THE Woman
Who Did" assures tina this book IL writ
ten "for the first time in my life wholly
and solely to satisfy my taste and my
own conscience" Let us hope that with such
markabe taste and 50 individual a conscience. Mr..
Allen will consider that he has pleased himself
sufficiently. and VIII hereafter write books III FOR
general reading. THE Woman who Did, liz simply
"advanced' creature. possessing more physical
charms than nature usually vouchsafes 10 the class.
She s convinced that marriage and slavery are
SYNONYMOUS terms. and accordingly much against
the will Of her lover. insists that there shall be
marriage ceremony. The result Is misery. but the
woman would not be happy except In martyrdom.
The book liz not In the least convincing; II will
~ have a bad effect on the unseasoned reader. for
Mr. Allen skllfully put In just enough sensuality
TO Insure both moral corruption and n large sale:
and worst OF all. the fallen apostle OF art would
have said the book Is not well written. 1t really
author Ia In
tent upon his thesis that he forsets is unable
to write good English The philosophical depth of
the story may be judged by this sentence Blank
pessim!sm In the one creed possible for all save
fools" II the author did not constantly
that .he is In earnest. the book might easily be
taken for burlesque.
Five episodes make up wedmore's volume. The
nrst the "vcar OF Pmlico" is delightful sketch Of
London life. free from sentimentalty, yet full OF
natural tenderness. The portrait OF the Vicar Is
vivid and we hope Mr.. Wedmore will tell more
about him In future stories. The other tales are
not quite up to the standard set by the first. but
the whole book Is decidedly entertaining.
Alphonse Daudet has succumbed TO the prevailing
fad Of Tostosm. and his novel. La Petite
Paroisse" furnishes diagnosis OF the extent to
which the maady has fastened its hold upon his
sensitive organization II breaches the now popular
evangel OF forgiveness. contrasting strangely
with the impacabie tue La" of Alexandra Dumas
the younger. Daudet has chosen one OF the hardest
cases possible. where forgiveness seemed almost
an absIrdity. the faithlees wife being without IA
single pal,iatng virtue. Indeed, 1t is difficult to
imagine a more displeasng character than that OF
"I.ydie Fanigan" one of the strongest figures I'm
the book IL that OF her mother-ln-law. IA grim sort
Of person. who rules the household with rod OF
iron. allowing her to kiss her only once year
The reconciliation between the husband and tho
srrinx wife takes mace on the threshold Of LA