The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03
PHILLPOTTS
Latest Book Good Reading

f there is any fault to be FOUND with
Eden Phillpotts' 1.-The American
L Prisoner" it is that there is too much
of it. The story is a trifie too long
drawn out to be wholly good; there is
considerable amount of dead wood in it
which might be pruned out to advan-
tage. leaving a plot unclogged by any
RESPONSIVENESS. 1t seems at first read
ing that the author had attempted an
other Guy Mannering" and then
thought better of the project, but not
until he had neared the last page Of his
manuscript. Another peculiar feature
of Mr.. Phillpotts' latest story is that
the American prisoner who is honored
by being the subject Of the books title
is not the leading character, and, in
fact, does not begin to get involved In
the main plot of the story until after a
full 200 pages have passed over his
head.
But now, with our mind relieved at
the very outset, we can proceed with
words of well deserved commentator
for 1.-THE American Prisoner" Forsak-
ing Africa and its "childTen Of the
mist" the author has turned him back
to the country he knows 50 well-the
English west country Of bleak moor and
wind-swept headland- The ruggedness.
the crude strength Of the setting, In
fuses like characteristics into the tale.
lending to It's dramatic climaxes some
thing of the eerie and savage which
cannot but grip the reader nightly. In
Lorey Lee, fantastic character as she
is. and in Maurice Malherb, with his
devilish fits Of temper, the weird spirit
of the downs seems to be incarnats.
The incidents Of the escape Of the pris-
oners from Dartmoor prison and Of the
spoliation of Lovey Lees precious
amphora on the marsh at Postbrtdge
are typical of this stirring note in
PhilIpotts' novel. The plot, sensational
In its elements, Is elevated above the
nlane of mere sensationalism by the
admirable skill Of the authors hand
ling.
Maurice Malherb. the center figure
of the Mot. IL a well outlined char
acter-perhapse the best portrayed Of
them all. His tyranny. which knows
no bounds in times Of stress, his Inn
petuous tenderness. quick to come a.
the baser quality, and his remarkable
constituencies for truth even In the
most trying situations. make q char
acter at once enigmatic and compelling
of close study. Whether or not a man
outside of a book would confess to the
supposed commission of q murder with
out stress is not a question to interpose
itself between the readers credulity
and his enjoyment of the story. The
daughter Grace is in her way quite as
forceful young woman as her father
is a man. When 1t comes to being torn
between the conflicting loves for two
very estimable young men she has some
difficulty in cutting the Gordian knot
but then it is supposed that most right
minded young women would experience
a like difficulty II similarly situated.
AS for the American Prisoner him
self, Mr.. Phillpotts has done him every
justice. even though he was captive of
war In an English keep.
Altogether, and despite the first para
graph Of this review, which is as nee
essary as this last, THE American
Prisoner" Is a very entertaining story,
not OF the commonplace in any respect
and one calculated to rate with the
best that have been recently written
by the younger school Of English novel;
lists.
(The Macmillan Company, New
York; illustrated: price II 6o)