Part 33
Other American novelists have made effective use of the details of commercial life as material for their work, but it has, we believe, been left to the authors of _White Ashes_ to introduce into a story the exciting elements of the fire insurance business. The dramatic possibilities of a great conflagration have, of course, often before been realised by authors, but not as in the present novel, where they are worked out from the point of view of the underwriter. The story moves rapidly, with business intrigues, plots and counterplots, and a compelling love interest.
THE FRIAR OF WITTENBERG
By WILLIAM STEARNS DAVIS. 6_s._
In the character of Martin Luther Mr. Davis has found admirable material around which to build an historical novel of more than ordinary importance. He has succeeded above all else in making this picturesque figure live, imparting to the stirring episodes in which he played a part so much of reality that the reader is enabled to visualise as perhaps never before the conditions leading to the religious revolt of which the Friar of Wittenberg was so powerful a leader. The story is told in the first person by Walter von Lichtenstein, a young German nobleman who, apart from Luther, is the hero. In effect, it is a vivid working-out of two forces which are striving for the possession of Walter’s soul--the semi-pagan, immoral beauty of sixteenth-century Italy as represented by Marianna di Forli, the daughter of a Roman cardinal, and the more restrained, less sophisticated, pious spirit of the awakening North, personified by Ilsa von Blankenburg, daughter of a Harzland Graf.
THE THREE KNAVES
By EDEN PHILLPOTTS Cloth cover, 7_d._ net.
DAILY CHRONICLE.--“The story really is a wonderful sevenpenny-worth. There is no pause in its sustained excitement.... Mr. Phillpotts knows how to build and move a thrilling detective story as well, it seems, as any other kind of tale.”
BOOK MONTHLY.--“As a new story for only sevenpence it is really wonderful.”
THE GIANT FISHER
By Mrs. HUBERT BARCLAY Cloth cover, 7_d._ net.
TRUTH.--“A love story of considerable charm.”
DUNDEE ADVERTISER.--“The story is tenderly told, and the final scene is one of extreme pathos.”
NORTHERN WHIG.--“A love story of an unusual kind, marked by freshness and charm of style.”
WESSEX EDITION OF
THE WORKS OF THOMAS HARDY
In 20 vols. 8vo. Cloth gilt. 7_s._ 6_d._ net each
With Photogravure Frontispiece and a Map of the Wessex of the Novels and Poems in each vol.
⁂ _Two volumes of the Series will be issued monthly, beginning in April 1912_
THE WESSEX NOVELS
_I.--NOVELS OF CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENT_
1. TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES 2. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD 3. JUDE THE OBSCURE 4. THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE 5. THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE 6. THE WOODLANDERS 7. UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE, OR THE MELLSTOCK QUIRE 8. LIFE’S LITTLE IRONIES AND A FEW CRUSTED CHARACTERS 9. WESSEX TALES
_II.--ROMANCES AND FANTASIES_
10. A PAIR OF BLUE EYES 11. THE TRUMPET MAJOR AND ROBERT HIS BROTHER 12. TWO ON A TOWER 13. THE WELL BELOVED: A SKETCH OF TEMPERAMENT 14. A GROUP OF NOBLE DAMES
_III.--NOVELS OF INGENUITY_
15. DESPERATE REMEDIES 16. THE HAND OF ETHELBERTA: A COMEDY IN CHAPTERS 17. A LAODICEAN
VERSE
1. WESSEX POEMS, AND POEMS OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT 2. THE DYNASTS. AN EPIC-DRAMA. PARTS I. and II. 3. THE DYNASTS. AN EPIC-DRAMA. PART III., and TIME’S LAUGHINGSTOCKS
NEW TWO-SHILLING EDITION
THE NOVELS OF MAURICE HEWLETT
In cloth binding. 2_s._ net each
1. THE FOREST LOVERS 2. THE QUEEN’S QUAIR 3. LITTLE NOVELS OF ITALY 4. RICHARD YEA-AND-NAY 5. THE STOOPING LADY 6. FOND ADVENTURES 7. NEW CANTERBURY TALES 8. HALFWAY HOUSE 9. OPEN COUNTRY. A Comedy with a Sting 10. REST HARROW: A Comedy of Resolution
ATHENÆUM.--“The Two-shilling Series deserves exceptional praise for its handiness and excellent type.”
PALL MALL GAZETTE.--“An enterprise to be welcomed by all lovers of good literature.”
DAILY MAIL.--“This cheap and handsome edition is very welcome.”
WORLD.--“Extremely attractive edition.... Notable examples of what can nowadays be achieved in the way of handsome book-production at surprisingly moderate prices.”
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:
Punctuation errors and misprinted letters have been silently fixed in this version, but minor inconsistencies and archaic forms have been retained as printed.
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.
Alterations made:
p. 5: craftmanship to craftsmanship p. 107: fragant to fragrant p. 247: thing to things p. 247: misshappen to misshapen p. 249: self-concious to self-conscious p. 310: indescriable to indescribable p. 312: indescriable to indescribable