The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-24

A notable piece of fiction that will have specific interest for the people of Ala bama is William Garrott Browns "A Gentleman of the South" which appears from the press this month. MT. Browns friends here, who have read his success sive historical writings on the south in the magazines have good reason for ex- pecting a really great novel. Of the book, 1t is said
 "It is an ante-bellum southern story of much grace and art and genuine vitality. It's predominant elements are tragical; but the narrative is at all stages realistic It begins with a duel between the heads of two families closely united by ties of friendship and approaching marriage, and the legacy of hatred works out its inevitable result in a powerfully tragic ending. The dismal nature of the story is relieved by many light touches of char acter and humor. On the whole, 1t may be said that The Gentleman of the South is a book with many unusual qualities, such as clearness, yivacity and accuracy in description"
 Some twenty years ago the public here was made acquainted with the Passion Play, by Stoddards incomparable lec- ture upon it, and since that time, and es- pecially since it's wonderful production in 1900. 1t has been the subject of many books and magazine articles. A new volume Is now added to the list, "Oberammergau in 1900; The Village, the People, the Passion Play" by Sarah Willard Howe. The book, 1t is said, in handy in size and small in price.
 The volume is the result of an actual visit to the place where the impressions of the drama and of Its dramatis personae are emphasized with a certain amount of historical and critical reading.
 To Americans who witnessed the Pas sion Play in 1900, there seemed to be so large a display of mercenary spirit in the evident bid made for tourist patronage that many thought the play would un- doubtedly be produced thereafter every l year; Instead of according to their reg ular custom of every ten years. But it l was not so That the people are still l pondering the subject, however, is evi- denced by the fact that there Is much talk ] at present in Vienna about sending the Passion Play to St. Louis to give per- formances there during the exhibition next year. Even now. an agent Of thu great fair is seeking to secure the con- sent of the archbishop of Munich to the 1 enterprise. It may sound feasible to those who have never witnessed the mar veous production; but those who have realize very fully the utter impossibility of ever detaching the players and the play from their native environment. The spirit of each-that which makes the per- formance possible, is indigenous to the ethereal surroundings of the little primi- tive village of Oberammergau.
 |
 James Lane Allen. whose new novel,
 "Crypts of the Heart" will be published during the latter part of June, has it is said, been receiving many letters of in- quiry in regard to the character of his
 book. To Chicago friend, he wrote: 1 "As to what I might say to you in ad- vance, this is the muzzling month in New l York and have to be careful" The mea- gre information is gleaned however, that
 "Crypts of the Heart Is a Kentucky tale and that it will be presented without 1 pictorial illustrations.
 l Thomas Dixon Jr., of "The Leopard s | Spots, fame has just finished new nov e which will be published during the