Page:The Pacific Monthly volume 4.djvu/185

 mastering the art of "triple" flirtations, can pass on to more ambitious efforts. This is only speculative, but the style of the stories, aided by the title of the book, seems to suggest this as the author's purpose. But then, what's in a name?

The illustrations, by the author, are very artistic, and help to make an attractive volume, such as the publishers are getting quite a reputation for. It will be just the book to put in the satchel when starting for the sea-shore or mountains, or to read in the hammock of a sultry afternoon.


 * THE GREEN FLAG AND OTHER STORIES OF WAR AND SPORT.
 * By Conan Doyle.
 * McClure, Phillips & Co., N. Y.

In his preface to this exceedingly interesting collection of short stories, Mr. Doyle says: 'Tt is difficult to make a volume of short stories homogenous, but these have this in common: that they concern themselves with war and sport—a fact which may commend them to the temper of the times. Such as they are, I have chosen them as the fittest survivors out of the tales which I have written during the last six years.

Authors may be allowed to have a predilection in favor of their own writings, but this is a case where it is certainly justified. Two weeks before the publication day the entire first edition was exhausted, and a second edition ordered.. This speaks for itself, perhaps better than anything else. Some of the stories are familiar to the public, and some are not. They run the whole gamut of human emotions, and together form a volume of unusual interest. It is some time since Dr. Doyle has issued a book, and the warm reception accorded this one in advance is the best guarantee of its popularity. The war and sport referred to cover a large section of the globe, and will be interesting to all sorts and conditions of men and women. The title is taken from the first story, which deals with war in Africa. Some of the stories are tragic, some pathetic, and some highly humorous. They have all the art of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but have a great deal more variety in scene and theme. The work is gotten up in a way that does credit to the author and publishers.

W. H. S.


 * MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE.
 * By Booth Tarkington.
 * McClure, Phillips & Co., N. Y.

Monsieur Beaucaire is a book that is destined to be very widely read. In many respects it is a model short story. Certainly there is not a superfluous word or sentence in it, and the plot is marked out in a masterly way. Those that enjoy a short love story well told should not fail to get it. Monsieur Beaucaire is a light, elegant piece of romance, wherein swords and love-knots "compare" as in a Watteau picture, but Mr. Tarkington, in writing it, took his historical responsibilities as much at heart as if he labored on a dry document of information. He read forty-seven books in getting up small details, and he went on a long, laborious still hunt to get the names of men in power at the French and English courts at the time of Monsieur Beaucaire's little masquerade. The author has had a great many applications for the privilege of dramatizing Monsieur Beaucaire. From a typographical standpoint the book is a very decided success. There are six full-page illustrations in two colors, besides decorative title page, head and tail pieces.

W. H. S.

An important book will be issued by the Abbey Press, of New York. It is entitled "What Is the Matter With the Church?" and is by Rev. Frederick Stanley Root. Dr. Root deals with the pessimistic facts in an optimistic spirit, and while strongly urging the traditional church, shows that faithful are the wounds of a friend. There is promise of very considerable discussion arising from the contents of this book, the facts of which have been marshalled with considerable skill and cleverness.

The publishers of Robert Neilson Stephens' new story, "Philip Winwood" announce that it went into its thirty-fifth thousand within nine days from its first issue, A writer in The Book Buyer advises all writers on historical novels to make haste before the reaction comes, as it is bound to do.

Miss Wilkins' novel, "The Heart's Highway," will be published in June by Doubleday, Page & Co. It is of the Colonial period.