The age-herald., 1900-05-20
l Books :!B@.! !,!: ?!!. -Pead R; cad s>-sBY A N SS~SA


recent editorial in a New York paper voices the opinion held by a large ma Jority of readers, even though they may never have formulated their thoughts into actual words, and that is the present supremacy and universal popularity of the romantic style of fiction-the novel of in- cldent and deeds, rather than the novel of character. The expression not only by this paper, but also by others, seems to have been suggested by a comment made by an English paper that it was a pity that our MT Howells should write so well about nothing. This pretty fling at the lack of stirring incidents in the novels of MT. How els has set the critical world to wondering II the time will not come again when MT. Howells will be at the head of the literary procession. While Mir. Howells still has a large and devoted circle of readers. if is equally true that there has been reaction from the novel of character; the great ma ority of readers now prefer the novel of deeds. This may be accounted for by the fact that writers of character studies pushed their work to the furthest limits ana the result was morbidity and unhealth- tul and unwhoesome literature as for in- stance, "The Yellow Astor" or Jude the Obscure" clever books, to be sure but none 'NO "hOiSSoHe. He mover or incident is the primary form of novel; it appeals to the greatest number of readers because of it's interest and stimulation. But the novel or character appeals to the spiritual and higher mental qualities of the reader in a way that the novel of incident never can Taste in fiction changes and after the ex- citement and stimulation caused by our writers of the novels of incident and history nave mad their day. popular taste will again return to the novel of character and the best and truest ability of the author will be demanded in it's analysis.
 
 Thomas Nelson Pages boo1, "Red Rool,, was published in October 1S9S and has constantly increased in popularity until now 1t is in it's one hundred thousand. Word now comes that MT. Page is soon to make his debut a dramatst as he is hard at work upon stage version of Red Rock It is fact not generally known that very considerable part of the ma terial of this graphic work is more or less autobiographical, and that the scenes of
 Red Rock are laid in the environment of the authors early home However, it will not surprise readers of Red Rock" to learn this, for so vivid piece of work has already impressed them with it's verity.
 Few recent new books have received more praise than Jack London's Son of the Wolf," which was only published about month ago. The reviewers seem to agree upon the freshness of the material of which the book is made, and find in it's author style and forcefulness kinship With, yet not an imitation of Kipling.
 The Son of the Wolf'' is made m of some nine short stories, and are rare ex- amples of word-painting. It is said that MT. London in spite of his extreme youth mas had very varied career At the age or l7 he went to sea as foremast hand Since then he has hunted seals in Rehr;np sea, shipped from port to port, and lived the actual life of the tramp In 1897 he Ief. the State university of California. where ne was studying, and joined the rush to the klondfke, being one of the few that crossed ChiIicoot Pass that winter. He is at present living quietly at his home in Oakland, Cal.
 One of the most talked about and suo- cessful English women writers at the pres ent time is Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler. author of Concerning Isabel Carnaby.'' which has already passed into an edition of 35,O00. Miss Fowler's new novel is call ed "The Farringdons, and Dr. Robertson Nicoll says of this new work that 1t is the most brilliant that has yet come from Miss Fowler.
 William l.. Alden, the London corre- spondent of the New York Times, is very much surprised over the recent decision reached in this country regarding Daudets "Sapho," and states that America has actually surpassed London in prudishness; for, in the latter city "Sapho' is selling freely and 1t has never occurred to any one that the publisher should be prose- cuted. Upon hearing the news that a Philadelphia publisher had been sentenced to years imprisonment for circulating "Sapho," MT Alden said: Tt can hardly be that the Philadelphia publisher has voluntarily gone to prison for year in order to advertise the sale of one of his publications. It is nine years since I knew Philadelphia, but in those days its inhabitants certainly did not possess that sort of enterprise"
 Two interesting articles have recently been written about womens clubs. One is about such clubs in London, in the West minister Review for April by Julia M. A.