The Florida star., 1901-11-15
AMONG THE BOOKS.
Some Chatty Gossip About Authors
and Their Works.
Especial Correspondence

bOoION, NOV. La MAURICE Hewlett,
the English writer, has had the au-
dacity to follow Chaucer in a new set
Of Canterbury Tales" Like the old
Canterbury Tales" the new ones are
medieval to the core and are not in
tended for very young readers. They
are limitations of Chaucer and yet are
decidedly original
Mr.. Hewlett's fondness for things
medieval. already shown in his Rich
ard Yea and Nay" comes to him by
Inheritance. His father, Mr.. Henry
Gay Hewlett OF Shaw Hill, London,
was an antiquarian of repute, and to
his fathers influence Mr.. Hewlett at
tributes much of his literary skill.
Mr.. Hewlett, like Anthony Hope, be-
gan as lawyer. He left Oxford at the
age of nineteen. without waiting for n
degree, TO study law in London. He
was married in 1888 and in 1890 was
called to the bar. Failing health drove
him to an extended tour of Italy. On
his return he published a book giving
his impressions of Italy. The success
of his first book was pronounced, and
it was followed by others equally sue
cesSful.
In 1896 he was appointed head OF the
land records office. a position which
had been held by his father. He works
for his living in the records office and
writes not for money, but for arts
sake, something which can be said OF
but few contemporaneOus authors.
Mr. Hewlett's method of composing
is eccentric. He writes early in the
morning and late at night. before and
after office hours. and always makes
three or four drafts of every piece of
work. The eccentricity of his method
lies in the fact that he never refers to
one draft i'm writing another. In this
way he preserves the spontaneity Of
his style without sacrificing the artis-
tic. and his vivid Imagination is not
hampercd by the monotOny of constant
revision.
DR.. S. Weir Mitchell's new novel;
circumstance" deals with q curious
$ cial drama. The scene is laid in
Philadelphia in the early seventies.
The story abOunds in sprightly dia-
lOgue which avoids the effect of being
forcedly epigrammatic. The title is
explained by the apologize: "On the
hilltop of an island endeared to me by
many memories the ocean winds have
permanently bent fir, pine and spruce.
Here and there a single tree remains
upright, sternly refusing to record the
effect of circumstance Oh character"
Lucas Malet's History of Sir Rich
ard Calmody" is the talk of literary
London. Lucas Malet is woman. and
her name is Mary st. Leger Harrison.
She was the daughter of a clergyman,
the late Charles Kingsley. and mar
ried his curatc, the Rev. Mr.. Harrison,
in 1876 Mrs. Harrison has written
many successful novels. One of them,
"The Wages Of Sin" published ten
years ago, is still a good seller. Mrs.
Harrison originally intended to be an
artist and studied at the .Slade school.
She has Travelled great deal.
Clara Morris autobiography, Life
on the Stage; My Personal Expert
ences and Recollections." is practically
a history Of the American stage. Her
recOllectiOns cover a period Of half
century. She tells interesting anec-
dOtes of great actors and actresses iii a
most interesting way. never becoming
monotonous. The story of j. Wilkes
Booth as Miss Morris gives it Is dra-
matte in the extreme.
Champ Clark. the chrOnicler of the
lighter side Of the congressional life in
Washington. and Walter Wellmau. the
Well known Washington correspondent.
have in preparation The story OF Mis-
souri," The volume will he in the best
sense a Missouri story book. 1t will
give the history of Missouri in the
reminiscent way to which Mr.. Clark's
readers are accustomed. leaving statis-
tics and dry data for some future his
torian.
The Pines of Lory." which has been
running as serial in one Of the New
York magazines. has been put into
book form. 1t is by j. \. Mitchell. edi-
tor of Life and author Of Amos Judd"
Mr. MitchelfS new story has all the TO
mantle atmosphere and mystery of his
earlier novelette,, but il is richer in
picturesque incident and in its flow Of
humOr. II concerns two happy lovers
who are continually finding themselves
In the most unconventional and un-
usual situations The book is hand
somely printed and bound and will
make a welcome addition to the supply
of holiday gifts.
Ernest Seton-ThompsOn has a rival