Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-09


Prisoners Of Hope" the book which
first brought Mary Johnston prominent
ly before the world, rightly takes rank
as one Of the great literary successes OF
the year and more than that win prob
ably hold It's pre-eminence for a long
time to come The scenes and incidents
OF the book like those OF her recent
novel 30 Have and To Hold. were laid
in early colonial times, and the reader
is carried breathlessly through a series
OF thrilling events connected with slave
uprisn-s In early colonial days inter-
woven with the ever brooding horror
OF imminent Indian massacres, the
entire thread Of romance being inter-
woven with a roof Of historical detail
and vivid description that makes the
story read Ike a life-narratiye rather
than fiction. The tale gives a clear
idee OF the conditions OF the slaves In
colonial days-the experience Of the
hero forclbly dellneating the peculiar
atrocity Of the white slaye-trade in
duged In at that time. A nobleman by
birth and prosecuted for his sympathy
for the lost Cromwellian cause. he Is
transported TO the colonies there TO
serve his hard masters In the capacity
OF q slave and in labor sufficient 20
overtax the tough fibre OF an OK, The
story Of rs love for the daughter Of his
legal master his participation in a plot
for a peaceable uprising Of the slaves
that was 10 have wrought more humane
conditions. mis- discovery and punish
ment, and the following thrilling incl
dert Of the Indian attack on the plan
tatiOn with the Kidnapping OF his lady
love and his pursuit and 9erilous eff
forts 10 fCscue her. are told with the
charm Of style that makes choice lit
erature Of themes doubtless known only
too well TO the hapless colonlzers Of the
new'world, whilst the wllds OF nature,
human and otherwise, We're still UNI
conquered II is a remarkable book,
ana with the authors ITO Have and To
Hold viii doubtless keep It's place I'm
the front ranks OF modern literature
Houghton. Miffiin Co. publishers SOLD
by Geo. Q. Cannon & Sons.
The success, popular as well as artis-
tic. of Miss Mary Johnston. the author
Of ITO Have and To Hold" and "PrIs-
oners OF Hope is one % the romances
0f literature paralleled most nearly by
the careers OF Jane Austen and Char
lOtte Bronte Until a few years ago
she had written nothing Then she
wrote Prisoners Of Hope which was
rmmently successful for the first work
OF an author. and now "To Have and
10 Hole" has not only enhanced her
reputation as literary artist. but has
placed her In the front rank OF 'popu-
lar" romancists The success OF "To
Have and To Hold" has been really re-
mCrkable. on the day OF It's publca-
ton advance orders for 5000 copies
had been received. and two weeks ar
ter IL had issued from the press OF
Houshton, Mifiiln & Co. the actual
sales amounted 20 over 100000. In one
week alone over GA 900 copies were TAX
on BY dealers and exactly one month
after publication it had PASSED into To
l25th thousand. Even Uncle Toms
Cabin" probably the most popular
American novel ever published, did not
do so wen, for two months after pub
LEGATION had passed before Mrs. Stoves
classic had been sold 10 the number OF
100000 The author Of this highly sue
cesstul novel comes OF an old Virginia
family Her father is MaiUr John W.
Johnston. who won his rank as an ar
tillery cfhcer in the Confederate army.
Ele Is a lawyer by profession. but since
the war nas engaged IN Southern rail-
road enterprises. When his daughter
was sixteen years old. he removed with
his family to Birmingham Ala. and
with the exception OF residence OF four
years IN New York city. this has since
been the home Of the family Miss
Johnsons mother died not long after
the removal OF the family 70 Birmng-
ham, and Mis- Johnston. as the eldest
OF the dauehters, became the head Of
her fathers house, a position she stlll
occupies,
Janice Meredith" Paul Leicester
Ford's brilliant novel Of the American
Revolution period, still enjoys a phe-
nomenal popularity, the sales keeping
up at a most encouraging rate for book
dealers. publishers and author
The book Is one Of the most remark
able works OF fiction Of that period and
Is more interesting 90 many than other
works OF the same time because OF lts
frequent incidents Of personal inclusion
OF the great American commander as
wen as IT'S vivid sketches Of the scenes
ON Philadelphia during the occupation
Of the city by the British army The
character OF Janice Is somewhat dis
appointing at times from us very
uAtufNIloh3t tine iNhlNIllN OF US lONt 10
look for immunity from faults In our
herolnes and the very human weakness
es of the pretty Royallst sometimes in
duce a desire TO turn 20 the IDEAL crea-
tunes ~ some OF our novelist authors
for a relaxation from our evaporation
But she is n very real production and
withal 50 charmingly described that we
are prone 10 forgive her frallties FOR the
Inevitable winsemeness OF her beauty
and helolessness. The exciting Incl
dents keep ones interest agog from
close 10 finish OF the book and make
one vent slghs for relief and delight that
the pretty love tale ends finally as Il
should. Lovers Of historical incident
should read the book ~ only Tor the
vivid pictures Il dellneates OF the critical
period IN the history Of our nation.
Sold BY George q. Cannot and Sons.
Now that ITO Have and To Hold" has
gained a popular favor that VIII GER
tainly carry Il into many editions, and
has oonapelled q critical estimate that