The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-04
- OOKS an0
. AUTHORS
A Strong story.

Deborah; a Tale of the Times of Judas
Maceabaeus. By James M. Ludlow,
Chicago: Fleming H. Revel company,
$780,
If this splendid story of a great epoch
should fail of a wide circulation it would
be sad commentary upon the discriml-
nation of the reading public. Of all the
so-called Biblical Novels" this one is,
with the single exception of Ben Hur,
by far the worthiest AS a rule when
we hear that work of fiction is to deal
with scriptural themes and times we
shun it, and rightly. But here is book
reaching the very heights of fctional
art. Quite apart from its value as
marvellous panoramic picture of the
times of which it treats, it has real liter
airy value and dramatic power, and it is
told with admirable directness 1t has
many elements Of power
Its greatest strength lies in the picture
which it gives of the Jewish character
at time when it was fighting against
tremendous odds against the persecu-
ton of the Hellenic influence. The at
mosphere of that critical era is upon
every page One lives in new world
while porting over the volume. DR.. Lud-
low has made a daring attempt in this
book, but he has proved his right to use
the large canvas upon which he works.
fidelity and subtlety that only the master
hand can achieve. DR.. Ludlow has not
written to amuse, and there is a serious
ness of purpose throughout, without
which the subject would not be justified.
Although the shades of the story are
mostly somber, The movement is swift
and decisive throughout, Of adventure
there is a plenty without any straining
for thrills. and until one has read the
book he can have no idea of the romantic
possibilities of the theme when touched
by the sympathetic hand of one who I'M
derstands wholly the spirit of his Sub
ject
Four characters stand out pre-eminent.
First of all is Deborah tThe Daughter
of Jerusalem, than whom no more fas-
chatting heroine ever adorned a page of
history or felton, impersonating the no.
bility and heroic self-sacrifice only posi-
bic to a sublime womanhood consecrated
to a high purpose. She is the moving
force of the story, and her figure is
drawn so strikingly and with such fine
proportion, and the discriminating Sense
of the limitations which y necessarily
bound a. writer of fiction, that she seems
more a living and real creature than
child of the imagination. 1t is not too
much to say that those who read the
Holy of Holes reserved only for those
characters which, like Antigone, leave
blessing where they pass.
Perhaps the finest figure in the story
after Deborah is that of Judas, the mas
ter spirit of the Jewish character at that
time. typifying all the power and virtues
and defects of his people. AS put forth
by the author he seems rather to be one
of the gods of a classic time than a flesh
and blood man. But this is not to say
that the character is faulty drawn. But
he towers so above ali. his kin, oerrnas-
tering by his genius and WISDOM and
winning from all reverential homage
which makes it seem most natural mat
ter, of course, that he assumes proper
tons somewhat heroic.
That reader who is not touched to tears
Ivy the little Caleb is to be envied The
blind brother who could see you with
eyes that none Of the others had, is so
winning and so lovabie a child as pictur-
ed in this book that any attempt to
speak of his part in the story would mar
the effect. 1t is enough to say that he
will hold warm place in the readers
heart, and his death, while beautiful, and
bereft of sadness by the author, strikes
one as a personal Bereavement.
The character of Dion, the Greek, who
saves and serves Deborah and after
wards turns to her religion, and finally
wins her to wife. is, like the rest, d
strong, consistent drawing
Such a book cannot be properly review
ed. It is an altogether splendid achieve
nent. To discuss such a book coldly is
impossible After the reading it seems
more as if one had seen the plot acted
out than read about it, 1t is the perfec-
ton of natural writing. DR.. Ludlow has
assured himself a permanent place among
the writer's Of today. Deborah" is worth
bakers dozen Of the so-called his
torical novels
s.The Affirmative Intellect. BY Charles
Ferguson, Funk & Wagnalls company,
81 90.
American citizenship is not privi-
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