The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-11
FOR GIFT BOOKS.
BY PAUL RRY.

She is one of the, most popular women
writers of the day. Her new work, I'm the
Permanent Way" exhibits power, grace,
ease and virility in every chapter.
Apropos of successful women writer's. 1t
is most pleasant and gratifying to know
that prisoners of Hope" is now in its sixth
edition. Birmingham people are proving
their pride in Miss Johnston's splendid book
by continuing to buy and read. Prisoners
of Hope" 1t has been accorded The warmest
and most enthusiastic praise from the press
all over the country, and news comes now
that 1t is soon to be brought out in Eng
land 1t is one of the favorite sellers. John
Lane Allen. dear to the heart of the South
erner, and read and admired even at so re-
mote a corner from his native country as
the land of the "RisiDg Sun" continues to
delight his readers. His "Kentucky Col
onel' and aftermath" are perennial favor
ties. Some years ago Mr.. Allen published
story, John Gray" which Immediately be-
came a great favorite. 1t is an unusual
thing to note that another publiser pur-
chased the rights of this story and after
Thorough revis on and many radical changes
on the part of the author brought it out un-
der the title of 1.-THE Choir Invisible" Dur
ing the past year no book was a more pop
u1ar seller than 1.-THE Choir Invisible" For
gift book. at the present time the pub
fishers have issued a superbly Illustrated
edition.
Another volume Just from the press which
has been anticipated with interest and en-
thusiasm is wild Eelin," by William
Black, the popular and delightful author of
"A Princess of Thule" The book is most
attractively bound and charmingiy Illus
trated by r. De Thulstrup "Wild Eeln'
will without doubt, prove a favorite and
absorbing book.
In a most unpretent'ous coat of soft, SOM
bre brown, comes volume of the most pre-
cious intrinsic worth 1t Is entitled "Auld
Lang Syne." Could any title be more ap-
propriate or more alluring, coming. as 1t
does. from the pen of the Ri. Hon. Profess
son F. Max Muller. The contents are made
up of mus cal recitatons. literary recollec-
lions, recollections of royalties, beggars.
etc In the most informal and delightful
preface the author confdentially explains
to the reader how he was ordered away
from several weeks of perfect rest with the
one promise made that he would take no
books with him. Later, IN self-defense
against the tedium of the requirement ne
took pen and paper in hand and this volume
of charming recollections is the result. Clos
1t Is our fate to lose our friends, but the
ing the preface he says: Gas we grow old
friends we have lost are often nearer to
US than those who remain. VIII they never
be quite near to us again? stars meets
stars after thousands of years, and are we
not of more value than many star? the
entire book is most entertainingly written
and should be added to that list of books
that are worthy of being carefully read and
remembered. There are so many express
sions and recollections of persons and
places spoken of by this distinguished man
that the book is of incacuable value as
storehouse of information and an ever in
creasng source of pleasure