The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
BOOKS AND BOOK REVIEWS.

TEMPERED STEEL By Herbert S. MALLORY
New York; 4. 7. Fcuuo 4 Co.
In this prolific era OF tales pertaining tc
iaeronautics. motoring. eiphant sIaugh-
tcring. broncho busting. ? ID social daw-
ding It requires consie .a5le temerity IL
an author 20 hark - < 20 the euirass-
denting, helmet-thumi-rg style so Popu-
lar a decade ago ASIDE from the tend.
eney Of the times. there are other din.
culties. the chief one being the obtaininE
OF original material the subject havins
been so thoroughly explored in succession
by Froissart. who probably dealt VIII
historical facts. by Walter Scott. who
added TO this the power Of exuberani
fancy. and later by Conan Doyle, whC
augmented these two with remarkable
dexterity in adaptation Herbert s Nal
lory braves all OF thse perils. however
and Is out with a novel Of the bloody
Mathllda-Stephen period. called TEN
pered Steel" As 10 the malignant infiu-
ence OF the colorless spirit OF the literary
times. he has doubtless scored a triumph
for his story should be a sweet relief &c
readers surfeited with pale novels, but
when II comes 20 comparison with the
recognized leaders IN historical romance
he can hardly expect 10 escape un-
scratched. for the opening chapter. which
IS indeed, a sort Of prelude. sketchine
scme episodes IN the youth Of the hero IN
the English countryside during . com
p6rauvely peaceful period. Is somewhat
reminiscent OF Sir Nigel, the description
OF a fierce combat by means OF a conver-
Hrr.s
apart from the field Is quite suggestive o.
the scene IN 'IvanhOe" where Rebecca
details 70 the wounded knight the ebI
and flow OF The assault led by the Black
Knight, and the general trend Of the plot
which is based on the sending by the
hero Of his bosom friend 10 WOO Tor him
with the Oft-repeated eXpedient OF the
envoy and lady falling IN love, reverts
the mind 20 Launcelot and Guinevere
which latter may be accounted for by
either the never-faiiing interest accruing
To this state ~ affairs. or. considering The
similarity of names. from some descend
ing telepathy 0f miad through klnship
coming down 70 the author from the FIRST
narrator Of the history OF Prince Arthur
Sir Thomas Mallory.
Leaving aside. however, the sources
from which the writer obtains his mate
rials. the novel has engaging qualities
which place Il far in front of the mass OF
current fiction. IL has a style which par
takes OF clearness IN narration and strong
atmospheric quality, with good descrip-
tive power and character portrayal, espe-
cialiy as regards the women OF the story
II Is a tale well told. even though admit
ting that the several elements OF the
story have been often repeated. for Il
must also be admitted that ar Mallory
is not by many counts the FIRST ore tC
have repeated them with variations and
success. and that his literary powers en-
able him TO weave therefrom a story O,
more than ordinary interest. with a show
, OF literary talent which places him con-
siderably In advance OF the mere serial ol
magazine writer, for judging from tht
tremendous output OF story depending or
I frivolous conversation. nOnpoctic plots
and perhaps seusuOus, episodes. IL i.
something even % know about the thine
OF which ne writes and much more % bt
able 20 tel OK them in such an artistic
manner