The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-25
The Output of Summer Fiction
Greater Than Expected.
LACKING IN EXCELLENCE
Hopes Rupert OF Hentzau" the Most
Popular OF Recent Books-Bsrrett's
sign of the Cross Some
Recent Additions.

lence. IT is distinctly lacking in produc-
lions which are equal to the best OF last
year.
The most popular of recent books is
Rupert of Hentzau," by Anthony Hope.
While the present age is very decidedly an
age of historical novels and of novels with
a purpose, Mr.. Hope confines himself to
the old plan of telling I'm an engaging
style a romantic story. Many books like
Rupert of Hentzau" and the Prisoner
of Zenda." of which it is a sequel, might
tire the fancy. But a few of them are
very acceptable. and just because his
books do not possess the favor of the av-
erage novel of the day Mr.. Hope fasci-
mates a host of readers.
Mrs. Amelia E. Barr is always readable,
but is not at her best in short stories.
christopher, and other Stories is a
w~ell-written book, but not up to the
STANDARD Mrs. Barr has set for herself.
Among modern actors few have wrought
with higher ideals or done more for the
elevation of the stage than Wilson Bar
rett. He has been successful not only as
an actor and as a theatrical manager,
but also as a writer of plays. One of the
best of his plays is the Sign of the
Cross The dramatization of successful
HONtlS mas DtCOint very toIlilOn VI ldtt.
The novelization, If we may use the term.
OF a successful play is not so common.
Mrs. Ryley's story of her American Citi-
zen is decidedly unsatisfactory. But here
again Mr.. Barrett has shown himself an
artist. THE Sign of the Cross Is as
good in story form as 1t is in dramatic.
The plot is laid in the days of Nero and
deals with those historical events so brill
liantly illustrated by Sienkiewicz i'm "Quo
Vadis" and by Ebers in AN Egyptian
Princess" 1t is impossible not to COM
pare Mr.. Barrett's work with that of these
masters, and IT credltably stands the
test.
Rosa N. Carey is a giant in stature, but
does not rank very high in literary work
manship. Her stories are simple. pure In
tone and readable. A few of them recently
added to the library are "Nellie's Memo
ries,' "Queenie's Whim," THE Search
for Basil Lyndhurst,' Uncle Max and
'Wee Wife,
Another popular author just on the
threshold of acknowledged literary stand
ing is Mrs. Bertha NJ. Croker. "Miss Bal
maine's Past" is her latest book.
We said in the commencement of this
paper that Rupert of Hentzau" is the
most popular of recent books. THE
Kings Jackal." by Richard Harding Da-
Wis, is a close second. A year ago Mr.. Da-
Wis wrote Soldiers of Fortune" an ADLER
book than this. We are sorry that he did
not give more attention to the countries
i'm which the plot of SOLDIERS of For
tune" was located Ar author cannot rise
to his best by treating of a different con-
tinent in each of his books. But this is
the course Mr. Davis seems to have
chosen. The scene of 1.-The Kings Jackal'
is in Northern Africa. 1t possesses the
usual charm of Mr.. Davis style. Shrewd
observation, apt expression and skillful
connection of the different scenes charac-
fnFfZD tho ENnTN II iE n~RallnnT Rnf Mr.
Davis ought TO do better. II he continues
to skip from continent TO continent he
may be the delight of this generation,
but he will be forgotten in the next.
"A Desert Drama contains some of the
best and some of the worst characteristics
of DR.. Doyle's work. The plan OF the story
is good and the book is interesting. The
conception of some of the national charac-
tiers may be good: that of the American
character is decidedly poor.
"Cyparissus; a Romance of the Isles of
Greece" is a suggestive title. We feel our
selves moving in the Elysian realms OF
poetry and art and song. The book itself
by Ernest Eckstein is a good example of
the historical novel, with the emphasis
on the history. 1t is well written and
gathers interest from its title.
A Cornish novelist of considerable merit
is Joseph Hooking. He has written moth
ing better than "And Shall Trelawney
Die?" and 1.-The Mist on the Moors," two
well-told stories OF a decidedly Cornish
cast.
A daintily gotten up book by one OF the
best of Americas minor novelists is Mrs.
Ellen Olney Kinks Revolutionary Love
story and 1.-The High Steeple of st.
Chrysostom's."
There is no better English novelist liv-
ing to-day than William +. Norris. 1.-The
Fight for the Crown" is his latest work.
and is well written, though not up to the
authors best.
Mary Harriet Norris is a new Ameri-
can novelist. and, so far as we know, is
of no relation to the English writer. The
first book of hers we have seen is THE
Gray House of the Quarries.' which is
very attractively printed and well spoken
of by the critics.
9Th Im~pregnable City" by Max Penn
beTton, is a stirring tale of an imaginary
fortress of outlaws and bandits. Not very
pleasant reading. but Is strongly written
and holds the attention well. 1t is a de-
cided addition to the literature of the
picturesque.
A good idea of the conditions which sur
round Jewish life in Russia may be OBJ
tanned from "A Son of Israel" by Rachel
Penn. 1t Is, moreover, an interesting
story.
Detective stories are always IN demand.
and the best liked of American detective
stories are those by Mrs. Anna Rather
inc Green Rholfs. As all of her stories are
cut from the same pattern. this Is all the
comment necessary concerning Lost
Mans Lane"
Professor Scotland has written many
volumes of prose or verse. but we believe
his first novel is "A Man-at-Arms; a Ro-
nance OF the Days of Clan Galeazzo
Visconti. the Great Viper" II is an able
story of Lombardy in the Thirteenth GEN.
fury.
A novelist whose style is good and
thought above the average is Miss NJ. q
Tuttiet. The story is not always agreea-
BILE and should not be sought for by peo-
pie who care more for recreation thar
for culture. "Ribstone Pippins; a Country
Tale" is her latest book.
In maturity of thought and carefulness
of diction Mrs. Mary A Ward IL probably
first among English authors. She will
probably never repeat the popular success.
achieved by "Rober Elsmere." but Hell
beck of Bannisdale" is fully as deserving
a book.
For the average reader II Il. difficult q
Ga 49, un4ESfaafRru kaaL than fhs