The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22
REALN OF BOOKS


ductory essay by Andrew Lang which is almost as delightful as Dumas himself. ''The Memoirs" says Mr. Lang, "pos- sess this advantage over most other books. that the most grabbed critics can not say that Dumas did not write them himself. They are all his own, and the essential point of note is, that they dis play all the humor. the goodness of heart the overnowing joy in life, which
 make the charm of the novels.r The Me- moirs are to run to six volumes appear ing at intervals of month. The Mac
 milan Company, which is publishing them, also announces q translation in four volumes of Dumas famous book of Celebrated Crimes" Like the Mem oirs this also will be the first complete edition ever issued in English Tho translation is entirely new, and each volume contains a shora introduction by k. s. Garnett.
 The publication this month of Vol. " of Dr. Henry Charles Lea's His tory of the Inquisitlon of Spain" marks the completion of this work and the cul- imitation of pr. Lea's lifelong historical labors. For more than forty years pr. Lea has been publishing works of various phases of ecclesiastical history which have brought him worldwide recognition as one of the greatest authorities in this special field, and one of the most accom- plished of American historians Simul- taneously with the completion of his History of the lnquisition of Span," his publishers, the Macmillan company, are bringing out new edition of one of his early works, History of Sacerdotal Celibacy in the Catholic church. This book has for some years been out of print, and the new edition has been thor oughly revised in the light of the re- search that h1C piVpn tp the GtIbiprt since the book was first published.
 It is but the simple statement of fact to say that the appearance Of "The Weavers," the new novel by Sir Gilbert Parker which is to be published by r.e Hampers, will be the most important lit erary event of the year.
 'The Weavers" is a great book. It Is great in conception, great in treatment and in dramatic power, great In sweep and scope. And it is of absorbing h. terest throughout. Love and passion and sacrifice and the struggle for power are in the story: a story that is full of vivid action and vivid contrasts.
 It is a story of England and of Egypt, and there is the splenddness of erect that comes from the presentation of widely varied scenes and types. There are the glamor and appropriateness, the rich ma gnifcence of the Orient, and therd is the vivid picturing of English life and English people. There is the gleam Of the desert and there Is the peaceful quietuae of English homes. And throughout there is such succession of adventure ana in- cident such a pcturing of human na- ture, such play and interplay or char acters and motives, are of peculiar high effectiveness fin this story. steeped as 1t is in the fierce beauty of the Orient and the graver charms of England.
 Claridge. the hero, is Quaker bred, but at his first meeting with the heroine-a meeting of splendid unexpectedness- stays. in her defence, one of Egypt's rulers. As a sort of eXpation, he devotes himself to the service of that country, and, rising rapidly to great power, is plunged into the midst of wars and con spiracies and myriad dangers.
 Lord Eglington his enemy, is high m place in England; and the two men are rivals for power, for title and wealth and for the love of a woman of beauty and attractiveness and charm.
 Widespread though the sweep of scene and great the variety of character, sne story is held in a masterful grasp and carried through chapter after chapter with ever increasing interest to the end.
 The Harpers are publishing new novel by Will N. Harben It Is another novel of Georgia, whose scenes and people liar ben has so fascinatingly described. and