The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-02

their painstaking they lacked the tech nique and facility in plot building of modern writers. Why should it be trea- son to suggest this? The world has progressed with gigantic strides in many branches of art, in science and all kinds or knowledge. The fact that so much trash is published does not justify us in discounting the really fine work constant ly produced l am not speaking of Robert w. Chambers and his impossibly beauti- ful heroines of incredible accomplish ments. Every one reads MT. Chambers because he somehow has the power to in- terest the reader in spite of his inanitieS. One reads, and thinks sadly all the time what a good book he might write if he only would. But I have in mind writers lke Margaret Deland, Mrs Wharton, Mrs. Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Alice Hogan Rice, London. Tarkington, Church. i'll, Mrs. Ward, Arnold Bennett, Barrie and others, almost any one of whose works, had it appeared in Dickens day. could not have failed to interest and de- light the readers of that time, and would doubtless be included today in that se- feet circle of standard works" In plot building, delneation of character and the power to entertain, much of present. day fiction is unsurpassed by anything written in the past, though a certain noble quality may be lacking which might be variously ascribed to haste, a material age, or other causes.
 Note how warily I have lodged the issue! Perhaps I don't know which are the best six books! For one thing, I haven't read them all.
 But the world moves forward and the knowledge and capacity for accomplish ment of the human rate constantly in- crease. Maybe the best six books are vet to be written.
 n nv
 TOR OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN
 CHURCH.
 T find it difficult to determine to my own satisfaction the six best novels ever written-unusually difficult because of the abundance of material provided in the last 100 years.
 Like the justice of the supreme court of the United States who maintained in confidential argument the superiority of the five-cent series over the ten-cent series of detective stories on the ground of quicker action I find my natural man, as theoogians would call him, turning to Clemens and Dumas when Eliot and Thackeray prove little less than tiresome.
 Without naming them in the order of my preference l would say that I re- gard the following as the six best novels ever written:
 Les Mlserables, Hugo; David Copper held, Dickens; Romoa. Eliot; Vanity Far Thackeray: The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne; Lorna Doone. Blakemore
 Il regard these six the best of novels IT. their portrayal of character. in their analysis of the good and evil forces in humanity. and in their call to the best within us to answer to the best in Gods good world"
 MR, CARL IT, MILAN, DIRECTOR OF
 BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY.
 10 my mind. there are only three books that stand out preeminently above all others. In naming these, I hope it may be understood that I am not saving these books are the best for you or for the readers of The Age Herald The choice is my choice absolutely
 These three books because of their excellent qualities, and chiefly because of their compelling interest to me. have come to occupy place by themselves in my mind, They are David Copperfield, Les Miserahles, and Vanity Fair
 MRS. w. l., MURDOCH
 'It is very difficult to pick out the six best books. because the six that are loved best among the classic stories and the six that are cared most for among modern novels are widely different I be- lieve l would unhestatingly say just
 Les Misera bles.
 It is life-there is wealth there is pow erty, there is crime there is love All that makes up the varied picture of life is these and it stands alone;' story un- matched.
 '"rhen know I would say. "A tale of Two Cities.
 Sydney Caitore remains today my hero, he did when first read the marvellous tale of Dickens, and unlike his other books
 John Halifax Gentleman because os the simple story of love, family life. and daily routine. charminglys old and so refreshing told after the nauseating prob lematic stories of today. It is like find ing clear stream of water after muddy pools.
 Adam Bede would ebe on my list but not alone for Adams strength of character,