“The publishers of the day may be forgiven for thinking that there was no public then to appreciate or understand the ‘original morality’ of Mr. Shaw at the age of twenty-four. We have got used to the ‘original morality’ since then; we could understand a publisher’s refusing the book now as being out of date.”
“It is much inferior in interest to ‘Cashel Byron’s profession’ and considerably less repulsive than ‘The unsocial socialist’ and ‘Love among the artists.’”
“It is hardly necessary to say that this new book contains much brilliant wit, and the cunningly worded results of many acute observations of men—and especially women—‘as they really are.’”
*“It is possible that the same mysterious force which drove him through the labour of writing it may have had some purpose which will sustain others through the labour of reading it.”
Shaw, George Bernard.On going to church: an essay; from “The Savoy.” 75c. J. W. Luce.
Mr. Shaw’s arraignment of the man addicted to stimulant is accounted for in the observation “that all drugs from tea to morphia, and all the drams from lager beer to brandy dull the edge of self-criticism and make a man content with something less than the best work of which he is soberly capable.” Mr. Shaw’s theory, supported by the sermons read in enduring stone, maintains that going to church—not for the services but to commune in the sanctuary—supplies the vital want in a loftier sense than the drinking-shop, or the conventicle with its brimstone-flavored hot gospel.
Shaw, L. H. De Visme.Wild-fowl; with chapters on Shooting the duck and the goose, by W. H. Pope; Cookery by Alex. Innes Shand. $1.75. Longmans.
This volume in the “Fur, feathers and fin series” is a “manly book written from the sportsman’s standpoint ... and fathered by three authors—L. H. De Visme, who supplies the narrative as well as the biographies of ducks in general and particular. The chapters on shooting the duck and goose are by W. H. Pope, while A. I. Shand winds up the volume with twenty-odd pages upon wild fowl cookery. The illustrations by Archibald Thorburn and Charles Wymper are unusually fine; those of Thorburn, the British master of his craft, being not only full of action and feeling, but pictures in the best sense.”—N. Y. Times.
*“The whole volume is written in a direct and vivid manner that, while convincing and instructive to the sportsman ... is also excellent reading from a narrative standpoint.” Mabel Osgood Wright.
Shearer, J. B.Modern mysticism.*75c. Presbyterian com.
A discussion of the covenants of the spirit, as found in the scriptures with special reference to the claims of modern mysticism.
Sheehan, Rev. Patrick Augustine.Glenanaar.†$1.50. Longmans.
“Glenanaar” is an Irish story, partly historical, whose motif is the stigma which to the mind of the Irishman must be visited upon the kith and kin of an informer—any one who has given evidence in a state trial. The central figure of the tale is Daniel O’Connell who in British parliament as well as in Glenanaar fought for the freedom of his native country. A sprightly modern romance claims a good share of interest in which an Irish-American, an Irish widow, her two daughters and a parish priest figure prominently.
“The book is of course, written from the point of view of partisan, but we confidently believe that even readers as strongly prejudiced on the other side will be unable to resist its fascination.”
“Canon Sheehan has suffered from his wealth of imagination, and, by condensing into one story materials that should have served to set forth two, has injured the unity of his creation.”
“It is deep-rooted in its racial element, interpreting Irish character with an eye by no means blind to its faults, but always with penetration and tender sympathy. The tale is somewhat disconnected in sequence, but is sweet and wholesome, and withal, not lacking in touches of humor.” Wm. M. Payne.
“Abounding Irish humor and delightful bits of character-sketching are to be found in this novel.”
“A vigorous and skilful piece of work.”
“The well-told tale is so full of humor, pathos, and romance that it cannot fail to win the interest of every reader.”
“Is a story of Irish life filled with a delicate humor and pathos.”
“Irish peasants—real, not stage Irishmen—are excellent company, and Canon Sheehan is a good guide.”
“The machinery of the story is, then rather cumbrous, but the shortcomings of its structure and arrangement are not likely to affect a reader who can appreciate eloquence, enthusiasm, and geniality.”
Sheldon, Anna R., and Newell, M. Moyca.Medici balls.*$3.50. Doubleday.
The title is derived from the balls on the Medici coat of arms, which was everywhere encountered by the authors during their wanderings. The journeys consist of trips from Florence to the Mugello, Prato, Chianti, Lucca, Pistoja, Brancoli, and Barga. There are over a hundred photogravures of people, landscapes, buildings and works of art, an index and a full list of illustrations.
“A charming portfolio of studies to be enjoyed by all.” Anna Benneson McMahan.
“Is narrated in a chatty, discursive fashion, with a due amount of historical reminiscence and a vivid description of present conditions.”
“The excursions of the authors are of particular interest to the lovers of Tuscany, because we are taken into rather untrodden districts. The out-of-doors life of these districts is described for us in pleasant detail.”
Sheldon, Charles Monroe.Heart of the world: a story of Christian socialism.†$1.25. Revell.
“The story of an Episcopal minister, who wrote and published, anonymously, a book entitled ‘The Christian socialist’ and on the occasion of his consecration as a bishop renounces his office and the pulpit because of the consecrating bishop’s charge to him to oppose socialism and this book in particular.”—Ind.
“It abounds in thrilling situations and sensational episodes which have nothing essentially to do with the story.”
“The principles and aims of Christian socialism are here presented with dramatic effect in the form of a story.”
Sheldon, Walter L.Duties in the home and family. $1.25. Welch.
Lessons on household duties prepared for children ranging from ten to thirteen years of age. The book has been added to the author’s “Ethics for the young” series, and its “ethical keynote is the preservation and strengthening of family ties not only in childhood and youth, but thruout adult life.” (Educ. R.) “The motives and limits of conduct are developed by questions and dialog and enforced by aphorisms, stories, poems and illustrations.” (Ind.)
“This elasticity of treatment strikes us, by the way, as one of the most useful characters of this eminently practical work. At the same time, Mr. Sheldon’s ethics have a strong backbone.” Wilmon H. Sheldon.
“The instruction is not sectarian or markedly religious, and could be used in any school.”
Shelley, Percy Bysshe.Complete poetical works, including material never before printed in any edition of the poems; ed. with textual notes and bibliographical list of editions by T: Hutchinson.*$2.50. Oxford.
“This new ‘Oxford Shelley’ gives all the poems and fragments of verse that have ever appeared in print, including a surprisingly large amount of material not to be found in any former edition. The text is the result of a fresh and evidently very thoro collation of the early editions, and the various readings are carefully recorded. All of Mr. Shelley’s historical and illustrative matter, with most of the similar matter worth preserving, is added, supplemented by the editor’s own scholarly notes and a full bibliographical list of editions.”—Critic.
*“Mr. Hutchinson has performed a laborious task both earnestly and ably, and we wish his edition the acceptance which it merits.”
“A marvel of editorship and book-making. It is likely to be the final authoritative and exhaustive work of its class.”
“An authentic, complete, and accurately printed text.”
Shelley, Percy Bysshe.With Shelley in Italy, ed. by Anna Benneson McMahon.**$1.40. McClurg.
The editor has selected and arranged the poems and letters of Shelley which have to do with his life in Italy from 1818 to 1822. The selections are grouped under the various years included in the time covered. The volume is illustrated with over sixty full-page illustrations from photographs of the Italian scenes and works of art of which Shelley wrote and among which he lived self-exiled from England during the last four years of his life.
*“Mrs. McMahan’s own writing fills less than a score of her pages,—a fact testifying to her marked ability to speak briefly and to the point.”
*“The whole forms a delightful sort of poetic itinerary, whether for persons who are actually in Italy, or for those who travel in imagination only.”
*“A very attractive and interesting book to all lovers of Shelley.”
Sheppard, Alfred Tresidder.Red cravat. $1.50. Macmillan.
A novel of the Prussia of Frederick William, that fantastic monarch whose giant grenadiers wore the badge of the red cravat. A tall young Englishman is seized and thrust into the royal guards through the influence of his rival for the hand of the beautiful English girl, Lady Joan Chrystal. Later the unfortunate guardsman receives the king’s orders to marry a certain peasant lass—but he doesn’t. The characters are all very human but not at all modern.
“Compared to the general average of historical fiction, this novel must be pronounced a decided success.”
“The novel owes much to its setting, and, while a story of adventure, seems made upon almost new lines from its leisurely style.”
“It aims at something good; it partly achieves that something; yet it drags. For it is overweighted with talk ... and errs by excess of quaint fancy. The author has done himself most credit in his characters. He has as obviously written the book to please himself. But he will please many others, too, for whom a bit of learned fooling along with some real human nature and some rude human humor does not spoil even if it ‘scotches’ a good story.”
“It is a fine stirring narrative, not without crudities, and there is some good character-drawing, which redeems it from superficiality. The style has spirit and charm, and Mr. Sheppard is a master of that kind of allusive writing which is best suited to the historical romance. The chief faults are diffuseness and an occasional sentimentality, which were perhaps inevitable in a first book.”
Sheringham, Hugh T.Angler’s hours. $1.50. Macmillan.
Anecdotes of fishing expeditions, bits of advice and some philosophy are found in these pleasing papers by a fisherman on British streams.
“It is a long time since we had a book about angling in which practical hints were so takingly varied with admirably penned pictures of the delightful surroundings of the art.”
“Mr. Sheringham wields the pen of a cultured gentleman.”
“There is a pleasant and old-world flavour in his style. There is instruction in his essays too.” L. W. B.
Reviewed by Mabel Osgood Wright.
“Mr. Sheringham’s book is delightful.”
Sherman, Ellen Burns.Taper lights, $1.10. Gordon-Flagg.
Eleven cleverly written essays upon such subjects as, The salt lake of literature, being the salt tears shed by sympathetic readers, thruout the ages; Just a few of the reasons why love grows cold; Between the lines, meaning facial lines; The devil’s fancy-work; and The lifting of veils in literature.
“This is a readable though not a striking book.”
*Sherman, Waldo Henry.Civics: studies in American citizenship.*90c. Macmillan.
“A book ‘for students who have at least reached high school age.’ ... The volume is divided into two parts, ‘Studies in American citizenship’ and ‘Collegeville.’ In the first, Land and government, Civil organizations, Banks, Civic and municipal institutions, Justice, etc. are treated. In the second, ‘Collegeville’ represents a township and the various problems of American citizenship are solved in an ideal fashion. The Declaration of independence and the constitution are appended.”—Ann. Am. Acad.
*“The purpose is worthy indeed, and some of the methods of presentation show that the author is concrete and understands how to instruct. But he should not have undertaken to write this book before thinking himself out clearly and fully. The sins against good English are numerous, and seriously affect the educational purpose of the book.”
*“Highly practical in its bearings.”
*“An excellent handbook for the training of young men for citizenship.”
Shields, Charles Woodruff.Philosophia ultima, v. 3. Scientific problems of religion and the Christian evidences of the physical and psychical science.**$3. Scribner.
“The late Professor Shields, of Princeton, obtained deserved reputation as a highly appreciated academic preacher, and as a man of literary genius.... The best part of his life was given to working out the scheme of philosophy whose prolegomena in pamphlet form appeared in 1861, and whose concluding volume is now issued. The goal of the final philosophy is justly conceived by Professor Shields as combining ‘the perfectability of science and the demonstrability of religion.’ In the present volume the scientific problems of religion and its scientific evidences are successively discussed.”—Outlook.
“He was a man of learning, in a certain obsolescent way, and the work may be used to advantage by others than psychologists, for whom it should be a document.”
“As to the scientific evidence of religion, one must say that Professor Shields’s argument so oscillates from strict to loose, and from maximum to minimum claims, as to yield rather limited satisfaction, except to a somewhat thin-spun conception of the term ‘scientific.’”
*Shirazi, J. K. M.Life of Omar Al-Khay-yámi.**$1.50. McClurg.
“This account of the life of Omar from the Persian standpoint, together with an explanation of his philosophy as understood by admirers in his native land, has been modestly and carefully written. The volume is well illuminated with Persian designs.”—Critic.
*“Mr. Shirazi’s English style is clear and simple, and his presentation of his points exceedingly interesting.”
*“The only real blemish on the book is the author’s anti-religious bias, which he doubtless regards as ‘smart.’ His transliteration of Persian names and book-titles shows little consistency. On the other hand, he has evidently read deeply in Persian sources for the material of his biography.”
Sholl, Anna McClure.Port of storms. † $1.50. Appleton.
A young New York physician is loved by a dancer whom he has cured of pneumonia, by a lovely young girl, and by a rich and cruel enchantress, whose aim in life is social recognition. The little dancer hides her secret and sensibly marries someone else, the enchantress drives the hero into brain fever by deciding to marry a leader of the coveted exclusive set, and the sweet young girl is left to claim her doubtful reward.
“A strenuous story with a problem ending.”
“An interesting analytical novel.”
Shore, W. Teignmouth.Dickens, $1. Macmillan.
An addition to Bell’s “Miniature series of great writers.”
“Mr. Teignmouth Shore knows his subject thoroughly; his admiration is tempered by sound judgment, his praise is never exaggerated. The book ... is marked by scholarship, critical ability and good taste.”
“The criticism is just on the whole.”
*Shorter, Clement King.Charlotte Brontë and her sisters,**$1. Scribner.
A brief enthusiastic biography which supplements Mrs. Gaskell’s “Life” and includes many of Charlotte Brontë’s letters which had not appeared when that life was written. The depressing story of the whole Brontë family is given, and there is much minute detail about the strangely intertwined lives of the three sisters and the circumstances under which their works were produced.
*“He is able to correct Mrs. Gaskell on many points. His style, too, is of the sloppiest.”
*“Written without prejudice, and with sincere love and admiration of the famous sisters, Mr. Shorter’s book is a welcome addition to Brontë literature.”
*“But the little book cannot honestly be said to have much life or interest about it. Its most original point is the view taken by Mr. Shorter of the importance of M. Héger in the making of Charlotte Brontë.”
*“The task, on the whole, he has performed with much skill, with an entire power of making even less enthusiastic readers share withhim something of ‘the glamour of the Brontës.’”
*“Mr. Shorter, to put it briefly, tries to compress far too much into one modest volume.”
Shorthouse, Joseph Henry.Life, letters, and literary remains of J. H: Shorthouse; ed. by his wife. 2v.*$4.25. Macmillan.
The first of these volumes contains a critical introduction by the Rev. J. Hunter Smith, a great variety of letters written by and to the author of John Inglesant, and a detailed account of his quiet life which was devoted to culture, literature, and the family chemical works at Birmingham. The second volume contains his literary remains, including three short stories and other hitherto unpublished writings.
“The book is a worthy and illuminating account of a man whose most characteristic work is not destined soon to perish.”
“On the whole the first of these volumes gives a fair sketch of the man, though the growth and origin of the books, which should be the most interesting things in the life are scamped.”
Shute, Henry Augustus.Real boys.†$1.25. Dillingham.
The doings of Plupy, Beany, Pent, Puzzy, Whack, Bug, Skinny, Chick, Pop, Pile, and some of the girls are here recounted. There are snowball battles, fishing excursions, parties, races, fights and adventures. The illustrations catch the spirit of the text.
“The matter is but a variation on the old topics, while the manner has no startling touch of brilliancy; but the adventures of Plupy and his friends cannot fail to make comfortable reading.”
Sichel, Edith.Catherine de’ Medici and the French reformation.*$3. Dutton.
In this faithful biography the queen regent of France is shown in her true colors and appears as an ambitious woman in whom was both good and evil, not as the monster of cruelty which history has made familiar.
“Well written, authoritative, and sincere, it is a model of biography. Above all, the author has made a patient attempt to brush aside superstitions, and to arrive at the truth. Now and again we are not able to agree with Miss Sichel.”
“A high standard of literary ability pervades the volume in spite of a few lapses.”
“Miss Sichel’s essays are interesting, and the book as a whole marks a distinct advance on the author’s ‘Household of the Lafayettes.’”
“An extremely interesting and comprehensive history of the first two-thirds of the life of Catherine de’ Medici.”
“Is a subtle analysis and vivid presentation of the personalities and ideas of the reigns of Henri II. and Francois II.”
“An industrious and careful volume.”
“A series of interesting and attractive historical studies.”
Sidgwick, Mrs. Alfred.Professor’s legacy.†$1.50. Holt.
A German professor bequeaths his work on corals and his only daughter to his favorite pupil, a young Englishman. The completing and publishing of the unfinished work prove a simple task in comparison with the undertaking to win a girl’s heart. To be sure this scholarly individual pursues one steady course instead of resorting to many devices, and it is due to a fault of method rather than purpose that the end desired is deferred so long.
“Is one of the most interesting and well-told novels of the season, and it should be one of the most popular.”
*“The tale as a whole is quite as entertaining as any of the earlier romances of the same type.”
*“Is a very readable little romance—a good companion for a railway journey or a rainy afternoon.”
*“The story is, all in all, well worth reading, although hardly likely to become one of the great literary successes of the season.”
Sidgwick, Henry.Miscellaneous essays and addresses.*$3.25. Macmillan.
“The many-sided activity of the late professor of moral philosophy at Cambridge is strikingly represented in this collection of essays and addresses. Sixteen in number, they take for theme subjects of an ethical, sociological, economic, educational, and purely literary interest.... An idea of the varied contents of this helpful volume may be conveyed by a few chapter titles: ‘Ecce Homo’ (a criticism of J. R. Seeley’s ’Study of the life of Jesus’), ‘The poems and prose remains of Arthur Henry Clough,’ ‘The scope and method of economic science,’ ‘The economic lessons of socialism,’ ‘The relation of ethics to sociology,’ ‘The theory of classical education.’”—Outlook.
Reviewed by F. Kettle.
“As an expression of the personality of Henry Sidgwick the collection has interest and value; as an embodiment of the Cambridge spirit it has enduring significance for all who care about tracing intellectual tendencies. The expression throughout is accurate; nothing is said more or less than is intended. The style is lucid, subtle, stimulating, never unpleasant, now and again humorous; never brilliant, persuasive, or charming. Stronger in criticism than construction. Entirely without magnetic quality.”
“The form of an essay or address is especially suitable to topics of this kind, which belong to the border land between the sciences rather than to the content of any one of them.” Herbert W. Horwill.
“What they give us is a series of side-lights on the development of a mind of singular openness to contemporary influences.” J. H. Muirhead.
“It includes a wide range of subjects—economics, education, and literature—and it treats them all with a solidity, a fullness of knowledge, a many-sidedness, and an occasional sparkle of dry light which keep them alive and informingeven when their immediate interest has begun to shift or wane.”
“... These characteristics are palpably apparent—the intellectual sincerity, the openmindedness, the faculty of acute analysis, the precision of statement, the discriminating taste that were so emphatically his.”
Sidgwick, Henry.Philosophy of Kant, and other philosophical lectures and essays.*$3.25. Macmillan.
“The late Professor Sidgwick, a masterly critic, left unpublished lectures and fragments which occupy the larger portion of this volume. They discuss the philosophical teachings of thinkers so widely contrasted as Kant, Thomas Hill Green, and Herbert Spencer. The remainder of the volume consists of essays reprinted from ‘Mind’ and the ‘Journal of philology.’ Of the lectures much the greater part is devoted to a vigorous criticism of Kant, and these were finished to their lamented author’s satisfaction while the others remain less complete.”—Outlook.
Sidis, Boris, and Goodhart, Simon Phillip.Multiple personality: an experimental investigation into the nature of human individuality.**$2.50. Appleton.
In the main this work is the analysis of a reactionary second personality resulting from an accident befalling the Rev. T. C. Hanna a few years since. When he returned to consciousness, he was possessed of an entirely different self, “which may be understood only by comparing it to the birth of a person possessed immediately of matured mental and physical functions.” The phenomena of this state, the return to his primary personality, and the struggle which the physicians experienced in establishing him once more on the mental basis of his former self—there being for some time a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tendency to alternate between the two human individualities—make a study as strange as it is interesting and important to the scientific world.
“The close and accurate study of Mr. Hanna’s case throws a flood of light on personality and cognate themes, and is a most valuable contribution to the literature of psychopathy.” Albert Warren Ferris.
“The most original as well as most interesting portion of the volume is given over to a painstaking account of a remarkable loss of personality, in many respects the most complete on record.”
“Dr. Sidis finds corroboratory evidence in support of his view that multiple consciousness is the law, not the exception.”
“Truly one of the most fascinating of the fairy-tales of science, for the observing and recording of which Dr. Sidis and Dr. Goodhart deserve all credit.”
“The volume deserves, as it doubtless will find, a useful place in the psychologist’s equipment for the comprehension of the varieties and the variations of personality.” J. J.
“Whatever its positive merits may be, the extraordinary jargon in which it is written and the painful dogmatism of its authors go far to obscure those merits.”
Sienkiewicz, Henryk.Quo vadis, a tale of the time of Nero.$1.50. Crowell.
This new volume in the “Luxembourg” series contains “Quo vadis” as translated from the Polish by Dr. S. A. Binion and A. Malevsky, and seventeen illustrations from drawings by Jan Styka.
Silberrad, Una Lucy.Wedding of the Lady of Lovell: and other matches of Tobiah’s making. $1.50. Doubleday.
Six short love stories in each of which unromantic Tobiah, the dissenter, acts as matchmaker. They are wholesome tales of crude times, and each has its own unique adventure in which there is the superstition and witchcraft found among the marsh-men; but the will of the Lord as manifested in the sturdy Tobiah, always triumphs, and the little blind god triumphs also.
“Miss Silberrad has quality; she has the power to create atmosphere. The stories in this book have all the hallmark of real ability, though their artificial nature makes them difficult to handle.”
“As regards actual writing and imaginative quality, this sheaf of short stories is above the usual, if not her usual, level.”
“A thoroughly enjoyable book. Stories more interesting or more wholesome it would be hard to find; still harder to find any of equal originality and excellence of workmanship.”
“Something of the dream-spirit of the Norse saga and folklore dwells in the stories, so full are they of atmosphere, of poetry, of true romance. Full of genuine humanity, too.”
Simpkinson, C. H.Thomas Harrison, regicide and major-general.*$1.50. Dutton.
“In this life of Thomas Harrison there is to be found the history of the leader of the Fifth-Monarchy men and one of the ablest soldiers of the seventeenth century.... Mr. Simpkinson’s book shows how noble a character this regicide had. Harrison was as brave on the scaffold as he was at Marston Moor or at Appleby Bridge, where his personal bravery saved the army.”—Acad.
“Had the story been written with a clearer style and with fewer digressions it would have been more valuable.”
“A good half of this book consists of quotations, and long quotations. His quotations are inexact; he is not discriminating in his use of authorities; his evidence occasionally fails to bear out the assertions based upon it; and his judgment is not sound.”
“Mr. Simpkinson’s ‘Life of Harrison’ is scholarly and sympathetic without being marred by the parade of extenuation.”
“[The story] is entertainingly, if somewhat unskillfully, told.”
Simpson, George.Naval constructor: a vade mecum of ship design for students, naval architects, ship-builders and owners, marine superintendents, engineers and draughtsmen. $5. Van Nostrand.
“This handbook is a compilation of rules, formulas and tables pertaining to shipbuilding, with just sufficient descriptive matter to make the application of the rules clear.”—Engin. N.
“The author has endeavored to arrange the book in a logical manner, but he has not succeeded in attaining his object as completely as might be desired. He also repeats somewhat. The index is not as complete as it should be, and the table of contents is simply a list of headings for which no pages are given. The book is certainly up-to-date and should receive a warm welcome from all who are interested in ship design.” Amasa Trowbridge.
“There is compactly stowed nearly, if not quite, all the material data needed by those engaged in the design, construction, equipment, and maintenance of ships.”
Simpson, W. J.Treatise on plague.*$5. Macmillan.
The obvious need of scientific study along the lines of the history and therapeutic aspect of plague in India is partially met by Prof. W. J. Simpson’s work of four hundred and fifty pages “elaborately illustrated with maps, charts, and diagrams, in which are presented the results of the latest studies of the disease made by competent specialists throughout the world. Dr. Simpson speaks appreciatively of the Clayton gas process of disinfection in India.” (R. of Rs.)
*“It abounds in points of practical importance, and should, therefore, prove a most serviceable text-book to all whose duty brings them into contact with plague either directly or indirectly.”
“It marks a distinct and important addition to what has hitherto been written about the subject. We have no doubt that it is destined to become a valuable and important aid to the student, the medical officer of health, to the epidemiologist, the sanitarian, and last, but not least, to the administrator.” E. Klein.
Sinclair, May.Divine fire.$1.50. Holt.
Savage Keith Rickman, son of a cockney book dealer, has in him the divine fire of genius which burns within him until, with the passing years, all the grosser parts of his personality are consumed. When the book opens he has written a tragedy, a classical thing, which makes friends for him among the critics even though they do not ask him home to dine because he is “not quite a gentleman.” In fact “his notion of pleasure was getting drunk and making love to Miss Poppy Grare,” of the Variety theatre. His meeting with Lucia Harden, typical of refinement and tradition, on whom he inflicts almost physical suffering when he “drops his aitches,” gives him an ideal to work toward, and he is never really untrue to it, even when he is engaged to marry Flossy, the little clerk. With a sense of honor almost too keen for the world in which he lives, he struggles on as journalist and poet until he reaches success, fame and his ideals. The book is unusual in its strength of plot and character, and it is most real when it forsakes the ideal and tells us that even the divine fire cannot shut out the coarser cravings of a man’s nature when he is young, a genius half-awake.
“Has an acceptable style, in all ways suited to the matter it embodies, a style with flexibility and humor employing a large vocabulary, cultivated and agreeable. As yet, she lacks that final touch of mastery by which a line condenses the whole result of ingenious mental processes.”
“Author has accomplished the difficult feat of taking a genius for its hero and making him seem plausible. A sound plot. Its faults are mainly those of excess. But no page bears evidence of careless work. It shows throughout unusual knowledge and an unusual degree of skill in applying it, and it ranks unmistakably among the best of recent novels.” F. M. Colby.
“One does not hesitate to pronounce this book literature. A keen understanding, an ethical interpretation, and a lyric style have combined to produce one of the noblest, most inspiring, and absorbing books we have read in years.”