Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-21
SUMMER FICTION
OF VARIED SORTS
English and american Novel
lists and Short Story Writer'S
Are Represented -

"Rain Before Seven" is a note
worthy first novel. II is by Eric Lead
bitter, young Englishman.. and SO
meritorious was the manuscript and
successful the story as published IN
London, that the American publishers
have contracted for the rights OF
the young authors next three
novels. Michael lawson. the chiet
figure, Is declineated we'll, both as to his
external actions and his inner being.
Mr.. I.eadbitter, though young, has used
his eyes whilest he has been about and
he writes from keen observation of ex-
perience about Michael's temperament
ally artistic nature. his sensitiyeness
to esthetic impression, his reaction to
life in artistic circles, his susceptibility
to romance. In Isobel. the chief feminine
character, Mr.. Leadbitter has created q
most fascinating and interesting girl.
The Interviewing Of her life threads and
destinies with those Of Michael Lawson
is told with infinite but not wearing
detail, with understanding sympathy
and with much picturesque attendant
circumstance. Stylistically Mr.. Lead
bitter is rich without being ornate. With
him style is substance and not decora- :
ton.
Jack London's stories Of his later
period. that Of interest in the pictur,
esqueness OF Hawaii and the southern
seas. are contained in "On the Makaioa
Mat" which represents what will prob
ably be the final collection Of his short
fiction. and possibly his last book to at =.
tain publication. Since his lamented
death several manuscripts, both long
and short stories, have been pub
lished. Admirers Of his full blooded ex-
otic style, adapted to his tropical topics,
and his red blooded plots for short
fiction will find plenty Of entertain
ment in the pieces gathered in this vol
ume. even though none Of them Is an
outstanding masterpiece. The stories
are full Of action and color. There are
seven Of them.
Short stories by novelist are also
contained in "The Eve Of Pascua" by
the Englishwoman who writes under
the pseudonym of Richard Dehan
These have wide variety Of subject
and time and place. They range from
Old Provence and the modern Syrian
desert to Spain and the contemporary
Cockney London. And in manner and
substance they vary from joviality &c
the tragic and even grewsomc. Their
tone is on the whole bit melodramatiC
and this turns toward the ''shilinl
shockers" and the conventionalized
family story paper type Of mawkish
sentimentality at times. But on tn,
whole they are simply honestly thrillin.
up to the point Of the sensational.
Don Cameron Shafer. a former re.
porter and now the advertising man.
ager of big service corporation. hai
as one of his hobbies research into tn,
olden days of his native York state
He has used the adept manner nc.
quircd in journalistic days to trans
mute his historical researches into al
interesting novel which he calls Barren,
Creighton. The historical period is tina
Of the Anti Rent War in Old New
York. Hc presents vivid picture o
of exciting action and much glamour
of romance.
Shaw Desmond. one of the younj
school Of Irish nOvelists. whose DE
mocracy' was very important tictiona
| Interpretation Of the yPasty impulses
| and political fermentS of the newer gen
Grafton, has written another absorbin,
novel. Passion" Just as he sur
rounded his first laConic. almost label
title with attendant circumstances o
realism. and romance. so he has HANDLED
the single impulse, of love that give.
name TO his second novel. Tempest. tn,
protagonist. is described and analyzed-
psychological in short--in Il masterl,
fashion, through the hardnesscs ant
richnesses of life. His life and his bat
ties and struggles are wide ranging. 4
digest of the subject matter of Mr.. Des
mond's book says: Passion is ,
story of struggle between idealsm ant
commercialism. art and the power o
gold, purity of mind and the sex pas
sion, democracy and big business. tn,
doctrine of Nietzsche and the doctrin,
of Christ Out Of this varied sub
stance, material and spiritual, Mr.
Desmond has wrought II fine novel
| both Of matter and manner.
| RAIN BEFORE SEVEN, by Eric Ledbitter
J philadelpha: g.. ", Jacobs & Co.
| BARENT CREIGHTON by Don Cameron
Shatcr. New York: \. A. Knopf
| New York: George Il. Doran Co
| on THE AiARAIIOA MAT. BY Jack London
| New Yohk The Macmillan Co
| PASSION. BY Shaw Desmond New York
| Charles Scribners Sons.