The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
-''SOmehOW Good

By william de Morgan. author Of Joseph
Vance and "Alce-for-Short. - Published
=. Sis.
= Somehow Good" is the third novel
by William de Morgan, and il is less
than a year and a half since his first,
Joseph Vance" was published. When
that novel appeared IT was hailed on all
sides as a perfect piece of writing. The
author received nothing but the most
extravagant praise, and was compared
to Thackeray and Dickens. When his
second book "Alice-for-S Short" ap-
peared il seemed that all the superla-
tives had been used up. and the re-
views could only say ditto" to their
remarks on his first book. He was
given place in the future on the same
shelf With Hardy and Meredith, and
none was found to gainsay this de-
cision Of the critics.
To bring out a third book in such a
short space of time seemed almost fool
hardy, and one could not be blamed
for saying that this newcomer in fic-
tion was unwise in taking such advan-
tage of the position that so much adver-
tising had given him. The book is a
tremendous piece Of work-565 pages
and but for the publishers eXplana-
tiOn il would appear TO be well nigh
impossible that so much work could
that have elapsed since his last book
was published; but they assert that
Mr.. de Morgan had several novels COM
pletely written and several others care
fully sketched out before he published
his first book.
Somehow Good" shows great care in
the making, and one cannot but wish
that all the adjectives which were so
generously thrown upon the other two
novels had been saved for this. Not
only is II the best work Mr.. de Morgan
has done, but il is by far the best novel
that has been given to the reading
public in the last two years.
The hero of this tale has been sep
srated from his wife for some years.
Slowly through the early chapters of
the book comes an explanation of the
Separation and a fixing OF the blame.
The delightful little chats of the au-
thor with the reader are reminiscent of
Dickens, and much of the study of
character is found in these same chats
rather than in any long psychological
discussion. Through a slight accident
a complete loss Of memory affiicts the
hero; he absolutely loses his identity
and accidentally finds shelter in the
home Of his wife. She recognizes him.
and having always loved him devotedly
is only too happy to have him near her.
even though he is quite ignorant of
the curious situation.
This all sounds very simple but the
developments are anything but SIM
pie, and go to the making of story of
complicated motives and experiences
which never lack interest. 1t will be a
serious loss to any reader to attempt
70 hurry through this book. Not only
viii he perhaps miss bits Of informa-
tion most important in the development
OF the plot but much pleasure through
the unexpected epigrammatic twists
and diversions.
An almost grown up daughter, who
has been kept in ignorance of her
mothers early history. adds much to
the interest and complication of the
plot She has her own little love af-
tair TO carry on. and 1t is only second
in interest TO the love affair of her
2 parents. The father OF one Of the Sec
Dndary characters in a professor, and
when he is introduced into the story
description OF him is given in some
500 words That alone will appal
the hurried novel reader, but be warned
lessor s pen picture. For the sake of
showing bit of the authors style.
this much of it is given:
Professor Sales Wilson, Laetitia' S
tsther. was the Professor Sales Wilson.
Only If you Ia seen that eminent
scholar when he gol outside his library
BY accident and wanted 10 go back you
wouldn't have thought he was the any
body. and would probably likened him
% a disestablishcd hermit crat-in re-
lpect, thar IS, Of such a ones desire to
disappear INTO his shell, and in that re-
pect only. lie lived in his IL
srary, attired by nsture in dressing
gown 2nd skull cap. But from its sc