The Alaska daily empire., 1923-03-10
A NEW ALASKAN NOVEL.

The latest Alaskan novel to be offered to the public is Barrett Wlouehbys Mrs Florence Will opghby. formerly of Kaalla) Where the Sun Swings North" The scenes of the book laid the Gulf of Alaska including Middleton Island While the author takes liberties with the geology of Middleton Island, locating there rich gold deposits the Alaska scenery, climatic conditions and eccen- tricios and natural life deftly and truthfully get forth in their proper coorng and with trained regard for proportions by familiar with them. Indian customs rather skfuy touched In fact, for first book good deal of skill and clever short cuts displayed throughout the volume
 The motif and many of the characters Alaskan only in their association with the Northern back ground-but that is true, also, of life and people in this country. There is standardized Alaskan character Alaskans like those elsewhere, differ, and 1t would be absurd 10 condemn book because one is unable to identify the people in it belonging to any particular school though it be an Alaskan book.
 The style is direct, simple and spontaneous; the vocabulary refroshing; there few wasted words, and few unnecessary situations descriptions. The book is worth reading It creates an appetite for more from this young Alaskan author.
 It is worthy of note that Mrs. Willoughby's pen name, Barrett Wiloughby" Ga name by tho way, that IS legitimate for before marriage she Flor ence BarretD has led the critics to believe the author to be man, and there is nothing in the theme or its handling that would dispel the assumption. This is shown in the following very favorable criticism re- gently appearing in the review of the New York Times:
 Barrett Willoughby is name among
 American noyelists for his first book he
 brings a setting that is almost new-Alaska
 at the present time. At few stories were
 seemed there in the years following the gold
 rush a quarercy century ago. but writers
 who had taken the Northern Trail for adven-
 lures sake. or curiositys or the hope of
 making strike But they were very few
 even then, and since those days Alaska with
 all its variety it's scenic beauty its rich pos
 abilities of material for fiction. has been
 practically forgotten by the people who write
 story books Perhaps it's lure for seeking pens will grow stronger now that a new
 authof mas sent down from it's spaces
 so Bood a novel as Where the Sun Swings
 North One does not need O be told by the
 authcrs brief note at the beginnng-"In
 thls Dook write of my country and it's
 people as know them'-wth it's date at hatalla, Alaska, to be sure of his first hand hhoWledge For intimate acquaitance and the sincere purpose to depict truthfuy land { people customs and character are evident on
 every page. Tho story is. first of all a
 vivid and very interesting picture of life at trading companys post the coast and later, of the existence of a marooped nartv
 on little uninhabited island ninety miles
 on shore MT. Wioughby evidently knows
 the region In all its moods, in all it's rich
 ness, variety and subtlety of color and an
 peal, and not only knows it but loves it with
 that wistfulness that comes of minplinr with love a certain homesickness for .tbe {: Outside as Alaskans learn to speak and think of the States at home. And secondly
 it e good story with plenty of action and
 incident and emotional appeal and with n-
 tcrest kept at high pitch because the author { with excellent craftsmanship, keeps the read CT uncertain to how the successive incl :-ssdents and the story itself are going to turn