New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
FICTION.
THE LAST WORD OF THE LATE HAROLD
FREDERIC.

THE MARKET-PLACE. BY Harold Frederic. T.
Illustrated by Harrison Fisher. l2mo. PIP. 4Ol.
Frederick a. Stokes Company.
THE EYE OF a GOD. And Other Tales of the
East and West BY w A. Fraser 16mo PIP.
200 Doubleday & Mcclure Company
MEMS TRAGEDIES. BY r. V. Risley. 12mo. PIP.
1903. The Macmillan Company
TIE publication of 1.-THE Market-Place" was
certain to awaken a special interest among read
ers who had followed from the beginning the
literary development Of the late Harold Fred
eric They hoped that as the last word in
fiction that fate allowed him II would efface
the lamentable impression left by Gloria
Mundi." This new novel does not, however.
fulfil any cheerful hopes. 1t is commonplace in
conception and weak in execution. AS was so
often the case with Mr. Frederic. the first chap
tiers got themselves written with some spirit and
cleverness but there was nothing to carry the
story on save an intention. more or less thought
out to Show up" the dishonest company pro-
moter. 1.-THE Market Place Is a novel of occa-
sion written around the shady doings of some
London fnanciers, and one might even say that
a well-known company promoter who recently
came to grief was in the authors mind when he
drew the portrait OF his hero: but Mr.. Joel Stor
mont Thorpe. who fills this book. is for all his
bgness and coarseness, the merest adumbra-
ton of man. The figure is not completely
realized by the author. and hence Is not con-
yinoing to the reader. Thorpe enriches himself
by one grand stroke of cunning and then mar
Iying on his ill-sotten gains. settles down with
the resolve to be "a country gentleman" and
finds out that to be happy he must also do some
good to his fellow-m men. He plans TO do good
But the transition from fraud to philanthropy
Is not handled with authority. The plot is thin
enough, the financial intrigues set forth being
insufficient to give the narrative genuine variety.
A few of the characters drawn with tolerable
clearness. but general tone of unreality per-
vades the book 1t leaves the author where he
was. without the capacity to write great novels
Mr. Fraser's touch is not quite firm. he is
sometimes a bit crude, but the stories in his
little volume are with few exceptions. original
and interesting. The stories Of the West are
che least satisfactory. The Indian of our prai-
res has not given quite the inspiration to- Mr.
Fraser that the latter has derived from his
Burmese friends. OF those friends ne writes in
very diverting fashion Possibly ones credulity
H. unduly stretched in THE Eye Of a God" but
H. Is nevertheless a capital yarn, and King for
Day" II even more touched with the spirit
OF exaggeration, is none the less amusing. Per
haps the kindlest tribute We can pay to Mr.
Fraser is the expression of a hope that ne will
write more stories like these OF Burmah-and
make them even better
Having read to the last page Of Mems Trage-
dies one has an uneasy sense Of having assisted
at kind Of subtle mathematical demonstra-
ton. Mr.. Risley has not apparently observed
human nature so much reflected upon It,
Then he has settled upon eight or nine different
psychological crises and has proceeded TO build
story around each one This lends a kind of
specious logic to the book, which seems to prove
that under the stress Of such and such emotions
men act in such and such a way, but human
nature cannot be pigeon-holed in this confident |
manner. Mr.. Risey promises to persuade his
reader. but ultimately repes him, the stories |
having an atmosphere Of artfce and shallow |
metaphysics which destroys the effect at which |
they aim. rather self-conscious preface ex- !
plains more or less how should take these |
psychological tragedies" but it does not make |
W. take them very seriously The author has |
ability. but needs experience and attitude |
toward human nature not quite wise and a
great deal more sympathetic and intuiuve. !