New-York tribune., 1900-07-14
WORKS or FICTION.
NOVEL DEALING WITH CONDITIONS
OF LIFE IN CHICAGO.

THE WEB OF LIFE. BY Robert Herrick 12mo,
PIP. 856. The Macmillan Company.
AN UNPARDONABLE LIAR. BY Gilbert Parker.
12rno PIP 156 Chicago: Charles H. Sergei Com
LORDS SGsoSUIRlT,saJP BY Lee Merwether
THE NERVE OF FOLEY. AND OTHER RAIL
ROAD STORIES 12mo, PIP. 235. Harper &
Bros.
Two years ago Mr.. Robert Herrick, author of
The Web of Life received considerable praise
for his first long novel "A Gospel of Freedom"
The book was marked by a style that initiated
very amusingly the later manner Of Henry
James. the involved and affected manner. and
by caricature In extremely bad taste of young
American writer who had won some distinction
as critic Of art. It gave promise, however; at
any rate it showed that Mr.. Herrick took novel
writing seriously and had distinct ambitions. In
this new work the shadow Of Mr.. James does
not appear at all. Mr.. Herrick has found him
self has struck his pace He writes with
directuess and with some force. AS his title
suggests, he deals with large theme, the strug-
gle for existence in Chicago, with the contrast
between the lives of the rich and the poor. For
his courage he deserves the highest praise; for
his achievement, however, he cannot be com
mended. Like many another novelist he writes
wholly from the outside. He knows Chicago,
especially in its more squald aspects, and all
that he has seen with his eyes he skiIfuly
produces 1t is when he deals with human nat
ure that he fails. He possesses all the qualities
Of a successful realistic novelist, except the
great essential quality, insight. The people in
his story have no real life; their doings are un-
real. MI Herrick paints strong picture. but it
IS a picture of conditions that exist only in his
mistaken fancy. Again and again his characters
act as no human beings under the circum-
stances described are known TO act His fail
ure is greatest when he deals with his humber
people; he not only patronizes them, but he
grossly misrepresents them; he even falls into
the stupid error Of making them use slang that
had its day many years ago, a familiar trick of
the unskilled and the merely amateur writer.
The narrative lacks the relief of humor.
The workmanship Of AN objectionable Liar"
suggests that it written by Mr.. Gilbert
Parker several years ago. It will surely not add
TO the reputation this author has lately won.
It is frank melodrema, with no pretence of pre-
senting anything like careful study of char
acter. Readers who enjoy unraveIling a plot,
however, are likely to find entertainment in it,
and they will like the rather old fashioned hero.
a Lords Courtship." by Lee MeriWether is
another Of those international novels which have
been appearing so frequently in recent years.
It has an attractive American girl for heroine,
and it has several specimens Of American and
foreign lovers In the end the American girl,
true to her flag, refuses the Italian nobleman
to accept the sensible young American who
has patiently adored her The book is written
with great sprightlness, the dialogue being
especially well handled.
THE Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad
Stories" do not, to be honest show deep
knowledge of railroad life. In this respect they
differ from the work of such writer as Mr..
Herbert e. Hamblen, who has plainly been a
railroad man himself They are first of all.
Stories rather episodes pleasantly enough
told, the railroad serving merely as back
ground. OF course. they are full of excitement
and adventure. and they provide sufficient diver
sion for these vacation times