The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1913-02-08 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

BOOKS AND MAGAZINES.  "Through the Cloudy Perth," by K. M. Edge (ses. C. T. Caulfield). John Murray, London: fin. This book will be read with great zest by all who take an interest in the affairs of one of the latest of Greater Britain's acquisitions. The scene is laid in South Africa, just after the war, and deals largely with the problem of the employment in the mines of coloured, as against white, labour. The story is somewhat involved, for the heroine. Naomi Beetling, is told at a reception after her marriage that she is wedded to a step-brother by the same father. Captain Beetling is an officer in . British regiment out in South Afric.a. and for the sake of appearances they live together as Mull:tend and wife. This has gone on for six years when the story opens, and although Mrs. Beetling does her best to keep her weak and shiftless husband straight, he goes from bad to worse, gambling and bridge playing. After being out there six years she meets a mine manager, who is the real hero of the book. She cannot marry him, however, on account of her promise to Beetling to keep his secret. The difficulty is eventually solved by Captain Beetling getting badly into debt and committing suicide.' The manager of the mine leads the agitation against Chinese labour, and eventually loses his position, the whole question being excellently set forth. Naomi Hestling is a fine woman, being one of those who seem to live for the sake of others. She is exceedingly brave under her great trouble, land hag the happy knack of bringing out the best in those with whom she comes in ' contact. She makes herself the light of the cantonment, and is the chosen instrument by means of which a delicate neerous child is made into a "man." The manager of the mine is another strong personality who has the courage of his opinions and also the strength of will to suffer for them. Many of the other characters are also well drawn, and the book makes most interesting reading. One also feels pleased that Naomi, after all her troubles, enters upon the road, perhaps all the beer for having gone "Through the Cloudy Porch."  "The Quest for Joy," by Louisa R. Boyd Andrew Melrose; 6s.  The author of "The Quest for Joy" makes in this, her first, book a very successful bow to the public, and though, as is only to be expected, her first ixtteMpt is not wholly free from those defects which usually characterise the early work of a writer feeling her way to a style, her work proves her to be a writer from whom good things may be expected. The defects consist chiefly of the too frequent repetition of such phrases as "the reader who has followed the fortunes of the characters in the story"—or words to that effect—is now invited, ec.," and an occasional diversion from the story to remark on the brevity, not demanded of the early novelists, which the reading public insists upon. Thaw are only minor defects, however; they do not materially interfere with the reader's enjoyment of the book. We are introduced to the chief characters in the book when they are children. one, Heyde, a child brought ur, in restrained and uncongenial surroundings, and the other, Amanda, a happy, winsome little girl, the apple of her fathers eye, who lacks nothing that she desires. From that point the authoress skilfully pictures their development into young manhood and womanhood and the expanding of their childish camaraderie into a deeper affection. Hewie does not marry Amanda, however, but. Sybil, another of the friends of his childhood, a strange wise child who grew up to be a tender imaginative woman. Mr. H. (1. Wells in sievetal of his novels—"Kippe," "The New Machiavelli," and "Mr. Folly," for instance—adopts the same plan of commencing with the childhood of his characters and showing throughout tho story the effect of their early environment and adventures upon their later life, and Miss Boyd succeeds in a different style and with a difk rent method in producing something of the same effect. The whole book is beautifully tender and romantic, and we shall look forward to any further work from Miss Boyd with considerable interest.  A volume which Mere. Macmillan are about to i-ssue for Mr. Maurits Howlett, under the title "Helen Redeemed and Other Poems" comes as a useul reminder that this author has groat claims to consideration as a writer of verse as well as of prose. Mr. Hewlett bas sought his inspiration in classical subjects, the poem which gives the title to the volume, aml occupies half of it. dealing with the muchsung Helen of Troy.  31essrs. Macmillan and Co. are about to publish " Necessity of Life," Madame van der (ices (who. by the way. is a daughter of Sir Frederick Macmillan). The book consist; of a-collection of tales which show excellent powers of characterisation, ability to sustain interest, and, what is of much importance in a short story, perception of the right moment and the right word with which to conclude.  "Can't you plead illness and remain in London It you could trust your maid!" "My maid is in the pay of Stephen Du