The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-02
.LADY LILITH"

, LADY 11LITH' By stephen McKenna. George H.
 Doran Company. Publishers. New
 York City.
 Stephen McKenna's new novel, in which he tells the story of Lady Bar bara Weave and her meteoric course through London society, derives its name from Lilfth who, according to the Talmud, was Adams first wife, and belonged to the time In which there was neither death nor the knowledge of good and evil in the world She is immortal, unaging and immoral. Her name Is. given by Gal entine Arden, the young novelist who appears in Sonia and elsewhere, to Lady Barbara.
 Mir. McKenna, in . recent letter, gives an interesting description and Interpretation of his book. He writes: Lady Lilith gives the history of a group of sensation and emotion hunters. whose principle and prac- tice it was to startle the world by the extravaganza of their behavior. speech, dress and thought, and, in the other sense Of the word sensational ism, to live on the excitement of new experiences. Such people have always existed and alwaysAwill exist, receiv- ing perhaps too much attention from the world they have set out to aston ish They had incomparable scope for their search for novelty and their quest for emotion for its own sake. This is . book of serious literary value, brilliantly written, as Is all Mir. Mckenpa's work, fascinating story told by an expert in the art.
 Mfr. McKenna is the nephew of the Hon. Reginald McKenna. member of the British cabinet. Debarred by his health from entering the army dur ing the war, he served on the staff of the War Trade Intelligence De- partment. and represented his de partmcnt on the Right Honorable A I. Bolfour's mission to this country in 1917. He is the author of "Sheila 1ntervenes," sonia, Midas and Son, "Sonia Married etc.
 HELPING HERSEY"
 By Baroness Won Hutten. George H
 Doran Company, Publishers, New
 York City.
 A new book by the author of Pam and Happy House" comes with a record of excellence and popularity that are unusual in current fiction And Helping Hersey'' lives up to the standard of it's predecessors, It is thoroughly delightful and enter taining group of short stories charmingly done as is everything the Baroness touches, unexpectedly dra- matic, subtly human. t
 The title story is very origina' love story in which mother and daughter and an old friend of tho mothers are curiously involved. The others vary in theme. but they are al about real people and the sad. merry exciting things that complicate theii lives.
 It is light fiction of the best type with certain distinction of stylt that gives il greater dignity and per manence.
 .AFFINITIESs
 By Mary Roberts Rihehart. George
 Fl poran Company, Publishers
 New York City.
 s"The truth Mrs. Rinehart says IT one of the stories in her new col { lection. "Affinities." lis Reneralls either better or worse thA tho stories that get about-and I'm goint 10 tell t'' This she proceeds to dt ifa her irresstibly kindly. irresist ibly humorous and tender fashion These stories arc love stories. and il way the book may be considered aa compa nion volume of her earlier work. Love Stories From another isoint of view it Is entirely different for its setting, instead ot the coo half light of the hospital, Is th' sunny. breezy open air of the eountr, club. the gay, mad, but distinctly In t6resting ways of those whose fat has ret them in thets comfortabl ptacesL
 XIike ali Mrs. Rinehart's previou k6ks. these stories are touched witt \ dsyery positiye and charming person