Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-01
ABOUT BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Mrs. Augusta Evans Wilson has en-
 tirely abandoned romance writing, and
 is growing old gently and gracefully at
 her fine old southern mansion at Mobile.
 
 The northwest can proudly boast of a
 story writer of rare ability, for Mrs. Car
 furnished some of the brightest short
 stories that have been written by any
 westerners of late years. 4#
 It is stated by good authority that the
 favorite books in the Sing Sing prison
 library are "Never Too Late to Mend" and Put Yourself in His Place."
 It is popular now for the widows of
 great men to write for the press, and
 especially Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher,
 Mrs. Custer and Mrs Logan, the latter
 during the past six months having writ
 ten some graphic letters of foreign travel
 for a Chicago journal
 Some of our famous and favorite wri- ters are growing rather old, for Richard Blackmore, author of Lorna Doone," is past 71; George Macdonald is one year older; George Meredith and Mrs. Oliphant are both 68; Miss Braddon. 59; Sir Walter Besant, 5S; Ouida. 56. and William Black, 55.
 Mr. Du Mauriers old Hampstead home. where he wrote both Peter Ibbetson" and 'Trilby," has been converted into a girls orphanage by Miss Mocatta, and surely no nobler use could be made of Newgrove house, where the author spent
 so many of his happiest years.
 The Critic now has for sale small pamphlet, "Trilby-Ana: the Rise and PrOUrpSg nf a Ponn1ar Novel p which gives detailed account of ''Trilby" and its author, its stage history, and even sermons which have been inspired by its phenomenal success.
 Phil May is to succeed George du MaAi- rier in the pages of Punch. Being much younger in years we should not expect, immediately, the same grade of produc- tions, but must wish him every possible success and hope that when he has cov- cred the thirty years difference in their ages his fame will be as world renowned as his predecessors.
 The November number of Demorest's Is the beginning of its thirty-third year. and with 1t begins also their World of Letters and Art" a department fun of newsy items concerning the literary world. The greatest wish we can make for this new year of the magazine Is that In the future it may make as many friends. tried and true, as 1t has in the past for in saying this we recognize 1t as a favorite with our whole nation. MT. Anthony Hope has already realized some thousands of dollars from the dram atizatfon of '"The Prisoner of Zenda." Proving how lucky it is to be the author of novel which will be also successful as play, as these are decidedly scarce in
 our fiction of today.
 "The Idol Maker" by Adeline Sergeant. 351 pages. D. Appleton & Co.,, New York.
 This book opens with life in India, and changes to that of England, though the plot is rather old, In general outline is a l strong story, showing how a character, l weak and easily led in most things, may be strong and noble in Christianity. The title Is furnished by Q very common place manufacturer, who secretly fur nishes idols to be sold to the heathRn. It l is we'll written and rather Interesting .
 'Tales of Our Coast.' By s. R. Crocl6et, Gflbert Parker, Harold Frederic, w. Clark Russell and e. $1.26. Dodd, Mead C Co. Fifth avenue and Twenty- first street, New York.
 The popular names of the authors of the five stories collected here are enough recommendation and also are strong spec imens of the authors' powers The editor of The Idier. in which magazine they first aRQcdIS0, IuuSL DS Out WH0 hx1S}W8 Wtx1t a good sea story means. They are full of the magic of romance wAich dwefls on the sea, but which few writers have the imagination to grasp and render 1t in a striking and picturesque manner, as Is done successfully in these stories.
 
 ~Witch Winnie in Holland" By Eliza beth W. Champney. author of ~Witch Winnie" etc., etc. With numerous H. iustrations. 12nno, cloth, a.50. Dodd, Mead & O., Fifth avenue and Twenty first street, New York Mrs. Champney's new novel carries the popular heroine of this weD-known series of books to Holland, where she pursues her art education. 1t Is dif1cuft to tmag- inc a country tn Europe containing more treasures in art and more opportunities for Witch Winnie to finish her education than in Holland Many of the characters in the other volumes of the series are re- introduced, and indeed tine narrative, though broken by several months (since the appearance of her last volume), is but barely disrupted Reproductions of some of the masterpieces of Franz Hefs, vandyke, Rubens, etc., are included in the illustrations. Godey's Magazine for November has a strong election-time flavor. which will commend the number to those even who are so much interested in the campaign as to neglect magazine reading this fall. Rufus R. Wilson's illustrated article on Conducting a National Campaign" pre-