Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18

AUDREY CRAVEN. BY May Sinclair, au-
York: Henry Holt & Co. Washington:
William Ballantyne Sons.
Since the remarkable success scored by
| Miss sinclair's story. The Divine Fire"
there has been an insstent demand for
| more of the products of her pen. Thus far.
however,, the public on this side of the
water has been treated only to reproduc-
lions. of her earlier works. First came
1.-THE Tysons," hardly up to the standard
which the admirers Of THE Divine Fire"
had reason to expect. This was printed
in this country, without authority by
others than Miss Sinciafr's American pub
fishers. Then followed, by authority, 'Su-
perseded,"e novelette, of exceptional merit.
displaying the authors keenest character
| analysis. Now comes Audrey Craven"
which is to be rated as fairly on par with
the story which established this writer
reputation in the United States. 1t Is
somewhat similar to THE Divine Fire, in
that it deals with literary London and pre-
sents full-length figure. OF a successful
novelist. The chief interest however, is
cente-ed in the woman whose name gives
the title. She is fascinating study in
vanity, WCdhNCSS SCiASAhSSS. SiiS
| Graves admiration. She never learns her
own heart. An orphan with sufficient
means to maintain her own establishment
under the merely nominal chaperonage Of
venerable cousin, she allows herself to
drift with her emotions. Her first complica-
ton results from her impulsive engage
ment to a cousin who carries her of her
feet by his impetuous wcoing on the eve Of
his departure for Canada. Then, during his
absence, she meets two artists, brother and
sister, friends of her betrothed, and
promptly allows the brother, considerably
younger than herself, to fall in love with
her and eventually to win her consent to
an engagement Meanwhile her fancy has
fastened upon Langley Wyndham, the lead
ing novelist of the day, whom she had pre-
viously met and secretly admired. Wynd-
ham has determined to study her as a lay
figure for Ids work, and readily accepts
after she has been caught in dilemma.
Her cousin is returning home confident Of
her love and fidelity and in her dread lest
her engagement to young Ted 1avi-
breaks off that attachment ruthlessly
and then throws her cousin over
board upon his appearance Then she
turns to Wyndham, who gladly ac-
cepts the chance to analyze her at close
range, and later produces his masterpiece
of fiction in a novel which presents her por-
trait to the life. Thereupon he steps aside
in an accomplished manner and marries an
old fame Save for Wyndham. Audrey
blIghts wherever she touches Hardy, her
cousin, dies after wrecking his constitution
in dissipation deliberately INDUCED in after
his disappointment. Her career reaches
its climax in her ultimate marriage to a
country squire who is known as the great
est bore in his county. A few fine figures
appear in this medley Of characters, Hardy
himself in his later days; Knowles, the
tall It, uoxy Ito 4
Ted's sister. This woman offers an effec-
tive foil to Audrey, and is drawn with all
the power of Miss Sinclair's sympathetic
pen. The story is told with artistic grada-
lions of tone and effective climaxes. 1t Is
likely to attract a wider range OF readers
even than 1.-The Divine Fire." for while
hardly the equal in some respects to that
remarkably effective performance, which
establishes a new high water mark in mod
ern novel writing, 1t contains more or the
human interest which appeals to the aver
age consumer of fiction Miss Sinclair
works always with firm stroke. wavering
| in no outline and displaying Psychological
quality now rarely to be found In the pro-
| ducers of current literature.
DAYS WITH WALT WHITMAN; With
some Notes on his Life and Work. BY
Edward Carpenter. With portraits
| New York: The Macmillan Company.
Washington: Brentano's.
In 'some respects as picturesque
character himself as Walt Whitman.
Edward Carpenter writes wildly or
the good gray poet" as he knew
| him personally, and as one OF his
| admirers and interpreters. He met Whit
| man during two trips to the United States,
| in 1877 and 1884, after having been for
! several years a close reader of his writings.
| On each of these occasions he visited Whit-
man at his home and during the first visit
| until a week
at the home of the Gilchrists. Thus he be-
came well acquainted with him in his vary
ing moods, saw him in his relations with
others and studied him both as a man and
as a thinker. His own Interpretation OF
| Whitman is based upon the theory that
| through him speaks the voice Of the ages.
He likens Whitman to the prophets OF
old, inspired with the great fundamental
| truths affecting the conduct of mankind.
especially suggestive being accompanied
by citations from the Hindu PHILOSOPHERS
| and writings to support the theory that
whitman drew his knowledge from the
great central fount of wisdom
| THE MASTER MAN. New York: John
Lane Company.
This ANONYMOUS novel of life in Virginia
comes evidently from an accomplished pen.
Guesses as to the authorship are futile.
The writer Is plainly acquainted with the
region and the people, probably a resident.
The theme is slender. the work being main
| Nv a character study Of rural physician. a
strong man, animated by the highest mo-
| tives and regarding his profession as santi-
fed In the cause Of humanity. He sacri-
| fees himself to the end that those he loves
| may prosper and finally participates in an
exciting scene. preventing by his wit and
bravery the lynching of a negro assailant
| fiercely. This causes his death later as he
ia returning from the death-bed of the
hrute's victim The tale Is admirably told
in dramatic style, with strong character
drawing.
FROM RULL RUN TO CHANCELLORs-
VILE, the Story of the Sixteenth
New York Infantry, together with
Personal "Reminiscences. By Newton
Martin Curtis LID, brevet major
| general, u s. Vols. Illustrated. New
York: G. p. Putnam's Sons. Washing
ton: Woodward & Lothrop.
Gen. Curtis has here told the story Of
his old regiment of volunteers with all the
vieor of a soldier and all the grace of