The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-23

EOh i LAIN
plot and incident. While the writer dis
| claims any intent of using history as
such in his story he grants that his lead
ing idea, at least. in it's earliest presen-
tatiou, is gathered from Macmillan Of
| Bavaria and the circumstances surround
ing his life. This is but suggestion,
for the romance is original, and we are
| asked to read it for its own sake, as
something true in the authors concep-
ton of his subject. The question of in
| herited madness is an exciting one; and
the intrigues which surround court
are full of strange combinations, we'll
handled in ga Crown of Straw New
York: Dodd, Mead & Company; Port
land; Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
$1.25.)
Iras, Mystery, by Theo. Douglas.
The occult and supernatural where
thousands OF years are as day, and
where reincarnation plays strange
pranks with body and soul, needs an ex-
traordinary genius for the production of
startling effects. In "Iras'' a French
woman, an expert in psychology, warns
story. of threatening influences brought
to bear upon him from Egyptian sources,
Savenham having been deeply engaged
In excavations on the temple of Kom
Ombo and expecting at the time that
| there will be sent to him in England a
mummy. by means of which he can con-
tinue his researches in antiquities. Fol-
lowing Madame st. Helier's revelations.
certain visions dawn upon Savenham s
consciousness not of an order to quiet
his alarm. The mummy arrives, but its
reception is but the beginning of blood
ourdling experiences. Tne reader plung-
es into Implications sufficient to un
hinge a sane mind. But suggestions are
thrown out in photographed shape
that the brain of the chief actor in these
scenes may have suffered from the
ravages of sun-stroke and fever during
his eastern explorations. The lover Of
maryels modernized, hypnotic sugges-
tion, and Egyptology will revel in this
volume. New York, Harper & Broth
ers; Portland: Loring, Short g. Harmon
Price S1.00.)
Amyas Egerton, Cavalier, by Maurice
FL. Hervey, illustrated by j. Shelton.
deals with the bold action of strong and
loyal men, in the Civil war and down.
fall of Charles I. 1912 to 1649, time of
such fanatioism and infiamed party
spirit that right and wrong grew con-
fused before injustice and intolerance.
The author of the present volume makes
no attempt at dealing with principles
but drives straight on with valiant soul
to depict Sir Amyas and the fight mads
by the cavaliers for the King. A pretty
love story accompanies the main narra-
tive. Ills good story and revives the
tone of the time excellently we'll, having
Oh lapses from the sturdy presentment
of seventeenth century atmosphere
(New York: Harper & Brothers; Port
land. Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
s1.50.)
Witch Winnie in Holland, by Elizabeth
". Chsmpney, author of Witch Winnie
at Versailles, etc., with numerous illus
trations. Tho heroin of Mrs. Champ
ney's latest volume goes on with her art
studies, this time in Holland, and the
pictures in the handsome volume before
us are from Vandyke, Halls, Rubens and
from more modern masters in the Dutch
school. Indeed the author refers to the
work of the latter class, SO superbly
shown at our recent Worlds Fair at
Chicago Together with this material.
goes lively continuation of the love
affairs and other affairs of the young
people and their elders whom hosts of
young readers have learned to care for
through the art o f Mrs. Champney's &C.
eomplished word painting. New York:
Dodd, Mead B Company; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon. Prics 81. SOY
Under the Greenwood Tree-latest In
the Harper's uniform edition of aThomas
Hardy's novels-belongs to his earlier,
and as many people think, better man
ner; to the time when he was content to
picture the English+peasant with appro-
pirate surroundings and bothered neither
himself not his readers with distressing
problems like those dwelt upon in Tess
and Jude. The story is rare sketch of
rural life, and surely never before did a
village choir, its quarrels. misunder-
standings, and little triumphs, awaken
more than neighborhood interest.
Hardy's admirers, especially those he
made score or more of years ago, will
be 81 atiied at the handsome dress in
which youthful favorite makes its REAP.
pearance. The book is for sale by Lor-
inn Short q Harrnnn