The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-14
B 90 K S

THE LITTLE ILIAD. by Maurice
Hewlett. In this book, the author
deserts individualism and treats Of
modern matrimony In interesting
fashion.
modern Helen, not OF Troy, but
Austria this time. who storms the
heart of Ave Scotchmen by her
beauty and sweetly indifferent air,
is the heroine OF THE Little Had"
a new venture In modern matrimon-
ial intricacies by Maurice Hewlett.
Personally. We think Hewlett Is at
his best in his tales OF feudal times,
when we willingly trudge with him
through The forests and finish up,
in true medieval style, bands OF re-
tainers or cutthroats who happen In
our way We've Just enough ro-
nance left in us TO respond TO his
shabbily dressed countesses or
woodland maids. as the case may be,
and exult when the robber baron
gets his just deserts and the forest
wanderers repair 10 the castle and
hll M on something besides nuts
and roots
This story is uitra-ciyilized. ex-
cepting Helen herself. who is rather
Greek i'm her attitude toward life, and
TO whom one man seems pretty
much the same as another. Hector,s
iine, exalted feelings are quite
thrown away on the object OF his
love. but he Is so engrossed with
them that he never wakes UP to the
fact The baron, Helen's husband.
n wreck OF man physically, but
very alert mentally. is the best
drawn character In the book. Helen
and he would have logged along
quite comfortably to the end. II Hec-
tor had not rescued" her from
what. in his eyes, is an intolera BILE
situation. In the end, she marries
the father OF the four young Scots
ana is as satisfied az she would have
been with any one of them. Alto
gether. Hector wastes his high and
mighty passion on the desert air. and
we suspect that Mr.. Hewlett knows
II, and what's more. did II on pur-
pose with a laugh up his sleeve.
J. y. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia,
publishers. sl.35.
TREASURE, by w. Dane Bank.
The contrasting story Of two
brothers, one poor and lovabIe, the
other rich and stinsy.
W. Dane Bank, who understands
the lower middle classes OF England
In an Illuminating way. Is going to
bring about happier condition "
the gospel OF cheer and kindly love
which he sets forth IN his stories has
any effect upon that somewhat
stodgy, unimpressioaable people. 1t
seems hopeless task. for the Eng.
fish ideal OF standing fast by tradi.
ton and all that has gone before
has become a part of their religion
and Is rock not easily loosened
from its foundation
Treasure" is Mr. Banks last
story. and IL draws contrasting pic
lures OF two brothers; one poor.
good and lovable, the other misery
rich ard devoid OF human affection.
The poor man and his family live
happy lives. and the other il In pit
OF darkness most of the time. There
is some clever dialogue. Snd we are
sure Mr.. Bank like Mr.. Bennett.
knows whereof lie speaks.
George h. Dorsn, publisher, New
York. 1875.
TIE RESEARCH MAGNIFICENT,
by n. G Wells. This book Ia
unlike Mr.. Wells former works,
and II you like IL az we'll as the
reviewer did, you'Il like il i'm
menseIy.
VI. c. Wells has adopted new
vehicle for getting his views of life
before the public. Boon" was the
forerHBner OF The Research Mag
nificent." which does not entirely
abandon the idea Of being story.
though. ~ matter of fact, II H.
just story enough 10 make = sort
OF framework and mouthpiece for
his revolt against what we call civ
ilization. The hero, Benham, dies
like Boon and leaves a lot of I'M
related literary material which his
friend, White is supposed to make
into book. No real book Is forth.
coming. and the fragments are
patched together with all the ends
iying loose. This Is. at any rate,
new style OF literature, and many
people may not think II literature
at all. but II seems more nearly To
describe the condition OF the inner
or real life of man than anything
we have read. The smooth, con.
sistent accounts given In the aver
age work OF fiction are rs little In
accord with the fierce struggles
and revolts In the consciousness of
man as Is an artificial pond like n
surging ocean.
This curious book Is something
OF an allegory. and tho search Is
for an idea, the idea being the pow
ct which will hold in a sort of bal
ance the conditions OF the world SO
that the hideousness OF life may
AS..-.~.~ nnnho,,so and