Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-29

This week appears the new novel by Sir
Gilbert Parker THE Weavers' the book
which undoubtedly stands first In Importance
among the publications Of this year.
In THE Weavers," Sir Gilbert ha sattalned
far higher plane, in artistic excellence and
breadth OF treatment, than he reached even
with The Right OF Way" great and success
ful though that book was. a.
Sir Gilbert Parker stands distinctly apart
from that class Of ephemeral authors who
make single dazzling success and then faii
back into nothingness, and his career Is highly
worthy of study as showing how really great
writer goes on from point to point, steadily
rising and advancing, and marking finer tri-
umph with each successive book
He is still only 45 years OF age, having been
born in Canada in 1868. He is in Its best sense
a cosmopolitan, a man of the world, for he Is
not only familiar with America and Europe
and Egypt, the South Sea islands and Aus
tralia, but has studied the people Of those is
lands with sympathy and insight. This wide
and sympathetic study of various races and
nations has added immeasuraby to his breadth
of view.
He first attracted attention in the early Dos
by some short stories OF marked and dstinc-
tive quality. located In the Canadian north
west. region with which he was personally
familiar; and good judges declared then that
he was destined to go far and rise high. A
novel followed then another; and then came
the tremendous success Of The Right or
Way" and the world knew that Gilbert Par
ker's place in literature would be permanent
And now comes this still greater triumph.
'The Weavers' book really great in its
sweep OF interest and plot its grasp of ma
tional affairs, the artistic skill of its treat
ment, the absorbing character Of It's story.
Sir Gilbert is not only great in literature,
but is prominent in English social life, and
is distinct power in parliament of which he
has been member for seven years.
He lives in beautiful home in Carlton ter
race the most exclusive social quarter OF Lon
DON and also has charming stone cottage on
a charming little estate in the country, Wnere
he does almost all OF his literary work.
Will NJ Harden, author Of Nam Linda, :"
which was published last week by the Har-
pers, has made a pronounced success along
unique lines. For he has taken up one small
region-North Georgia, where he was born
and where he lived till manhood-and has con-
sstently held himself to write about that
region and about nothing else. A few other
writer's have done this same thing. in some
degree, in regard to other parts of this coun-
try, but none has held steadily to- one
small district and has so consistently refused
to be tempted into fresh fields. The only par
allel case, in fact is that OF Thomas Hardy Of
England. nt
AS young man, indeed, Harben wrote a
few short stores of New York life but he has
since then held unswervingly to writing Of the
region which he intimately knows ana deeply
loves. He likes to remember that 1t was
largely due to the advice of w. D. Howells
that he has made this rule of his writing
Mr. Howells read 'Westerfelt." which the
Harpers published in 1901 and, meeting Mr.
to write only of North Georgia
The fact that Irving Bachelor has spent the
greater part of his life in New York city Will
seem surprising to the host of readers who
have come to know him writer with a
keen relish for out of door life and striking
appreciation of rural wit and wisdom as well
as delightful cleverness in putting them
upon paper Yet this man, the /creator of
"Silas Strong" Emperor of the Woods "
"Eben Holden" and now of that charming
little book. "Eben Holden's Last Day A.
Fishing" was actively connected with the
press of New York for many years, and until
recently was one Of the editors of one Of the
greatest and busiest and up to date New York
newspapers His love for the country Is IN
stinctive and deep rooted, however, and he
never lost it. even In his busiest years of New
York work. Most of his time now Is spent
either at favorite spot on Long Island sound
forests and villages of the Adirondacks. With
his profound affection for the country. there
goes naturally the insight into country char
acter which gives his work SO charming and
distinctive a quality.
Don c. seitz, author of that book of breezy
and delightful humor. discoveries in Every
day Europe published last week by the
Harpers was born in Ohio in 1862. He
graduated from the Liberal institute of Nor
way. Maine. and entered journalism as pro-
fession He very soon placed in import
ant positions. such Albany correspondent
city editor and managing editor. with import
and newspapers for he showed from the frs
ability and good judgment in authority. Al
present he occupies a position of high mana
gerial responsibility with one OF the creates
Of the New York papers.
Jennie Day Haines is adding two new vol.
umes to her list of original compilations this
fall. both to be published by Paul Elder 6
Co. of San Francisco and New York. One
toms and traditions of the holidays from
Christmas eve onward to Twelfth night being
topically arranged. The book is to be printed
on Normandy vellum. fabricated In missal
style, embellished with frontispiece in deli
cate color by Gordon Ross and daintily bound
in Ancona boards. The other. a, companion
volume in formal, Is to be weather Opin-
ions,'' a quaint compilation of weather quo
weather subjects to be decorated semi
humorously by Spencer Wright This also
will be printed on Normandy vellum In two
colors with frontispiece In color by Gordon
Ross and bound in rich harmonious hand made
boards
In the preface of 1.-THE Stork Book" New
ton Newkirk's latest book of humor published
by H. NJ. Caldwell company of New York and
Boston, the author confesses that he has not
known the joys of fatherhood and therefore
knows nothing Of babies but insists that he
+, qualified to write authoritatively about
them for the simple reason that the married
folks who have no children always give advice
on baby culture to those who have
The 'cynic's Calendar" with which is to
be Incorporated a. lexicon of legal phrases
designed to enlighten the uninitiated, is
again in preparation for 1908. This year S
edition will bring the circulation of this di-
verting annual up TO 100000 copies. Tho pub
fishers. Paul Elder & Co., announce that it
will be ready October Is.
Among the Century company's juvenile pub
locations this fall will be series of six vol
umes of Geographical Stories' retold from
st. Nicholas. books of adventure travel and
description. chiefly in the great geographical
divisions of the United States. There will be
"Sea Stories," Western Frontier Stories'
"Stories of the Great Lakes" Stories OF the
South, Island Stories" and Stories of
Strange Sights"
Those entertaining Juveniles "Guess,"
Guess Again." and Mother Wild Goose and
Her Wild Beast Show" hy L. ]. Bridgman,
which have already delighted thousands Of lit
tie ones. are brought out this year in new
dress by II. M. Caldwell company of New
York and Boston. Dear little Dutch children
In their quaint clothes and caps run riot
around the covers of the books.
Messrs Paul Elder & Co. announce a quarto
photogravure edition OF Poe's Raven as
their principal holiday gift book for the COM
ing season. Poets essay. THE Philosophy of
Composition being faithful exposition