The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-09
HARRY HERVEY GETS
PRAISE OF CRITICS
Caravans of the Night" Reviewed in
New York Herald and Author
Spoken 70 As Wonder.


TO have a first book accepted and
praised ever so slightly by the critics
IS considered encouraging. But to
have first hook proclaimed by ono
OF the most critical OF reviewers as IAN
astonishing performance" and a bull
~ story" Is something unusual in the
life OF tho story-writer. unless his first
book borders upon a work Of genius.
Caravans OF the Night" must skirt
very closely to those borders, IL one
may Judge BY the extravaganza praise
of the review in the Sunday New York
Herald, and those who have closely
followed the career OF Harry Hervey
in reading this review viii not only
feel that their faith in him was more
than justified. but viii have a real
feeling OF pride IN his accomplishment.
The review in the Herald is accom-
panied by very good likeness OF Mr..
Hervey, follows:
For a first book this romance OF
Mr.. Hervey's is an astonishingly fine
performance. 1t is something OF a test
for an old hand at novel writing to
sustain a readers interest through
book that runs TO 400 pages, but when
an author can do this in his first essay
at anything longer than a short story
he may be looked upon as something
Of literary wonder. 1t is also a part
OF this striking twelve by Mr.. Hervey
that his style is as romantic as his
story. shot with phrases that bring
out the hot color of midas days and
the myriad dusky beauties of It's trop-
icel nights. And. TO crown all the
rest. he is intensely personal writing
without memories of Kipling or any
one else whose fame is connected with
the novel of the Briton in India.
"The theft on single night of many
OF the state Jewels OF a dozen native
Indian rulers begins the tale, the sub
stitution OF an imitation pearl neck
lace OF great value and beauty CEN
tering the interests of the two Eng
lishmen who serve as the chief figures
in the tale along with Dana Chatteris,
an American girl newly ccma to India,
and Of the Swaying Cobra, Mr.. Her
voys vampire. The Swaying Cobra,
whose tradition of power is rather
nebulous. persuades tho head of the
intelligence service that, given the aid
follow her own devices. she can find
the stolen jewels. Which being accom-
plished the trail OF the Cobra and
trent leads by roundabout ways TO
Thibet, all this serving as a pathway
over which the author can trail ro-
nance and vivid descriptions of Indian
city and Jungle life.
but &c is when he reaches Thibet
that his power OF colorful description
has full play. Landor gives the read
er OF his narrative OF his famous Jour-
ney into the Forbidden Land, the i'm
preston that II was a drab and dirty
country. but 10 AIr. Hervey. II is gor-
geous in color and costume and cere-
monial. as much so as one OF our most
elaborate pseudo historical movies
True or not to actually. 1t is romantic
and fits in with the recovery OF the
jewels and the tragic exposure of the
reader may or may not believe was the
mysterious NJ Chavigny of the sub
stituted necklace. In addition to ad-
miring the persistency of Major Trent
in his search, the charm of Dana Chat
tetris, the wiles OF the Swaying Cobra
readers will find particular satisfac-
ton in the resourcefulness of Euan
Kerth of the intelligence service, who
is close relative of Mr. Kiplin's ia
NOUS Strickland. We call this bull
~ story