ville-West just published by George H. Doran Company, New York, G $2.00, has a peculiar history. in 1920 an_ English publishing house accepted the book for publication. The type was set, plates were made, the book was printed, the sheets were folded and sewed, but just as the book was to be put between the covers publication was stopped.
Miss Sackville-West has written the story of three people whom she named Julian Davenant, Eve, and Kate. She has placed these three, the man, the girl and the woman against a- background of true national] history in the Greek islands. They are English people involved in a drama of life that is striking in its commonplace' simplicity. Despite the colour and exertism of the setting the characters remain simply Anglo-Saxon.
It transpired just as the book was to be published that the portrait in general, and possibly in particular, was of an actual family connected with the author's own family. At least so this family Lelieved. Looking into the pages of the manuscript of "Challenge" they thought they saw themselves mirrored. The publication must be interfered with, and as the family Was one not without influence, a representation of its attitude did finally suffice. For two years the novel lay in this lamentable condition, an: object of anxiety, constraint, doubt, dismay and almost certain loss to the house of publish-
It is an interesting historical fact that Princess Mary's baby is inscended on both sides from Henry VII, as Lord Lascelles' family trace descent from Henry VII's daughter Mary, wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Henry VII was Henry of Richmond. both in Yorkshire and Surrey, for he was the builder of the Palace at Sheen which he renamed Richmond) after his Yorkshire. home. Queen Mary was brought up at White Lodge, Richmond, Surrey: Lord Harewood lives not very far from Richmond, Yorks, so on both sides the new baby may be said to combine again the double Richmond ties of his ancestor, Henry VII. Those historically interested in this should ers.
While others worried and fussed about the book, its author was serene. Out in the incomparable English country house, Knole, the seat during several centuries of the Dukes of Dorset, her ancestors, the young girl who had raised all the family disturbance was calmly busy writing another book which she entitled "The Heir' and sent to an American publisher.
This book was bought by George H. Doran and Company and_ will be published later this year. It is a manuscript of fine writing. When the publishers saw it they set about to secure the former book, and so "Challenge," plates and all has been bought and given to the public in America, the inhibition read Lady Cave's book "Memories of!in England still existing." If is a Old Richmond." book different from the usual novel oe of. the day. There is nothing Mrs. Atherton—as the wise major-spectacular about it; it is simple, ity know—is past master of the art direct and unusual. of telling a good tale. "Black oe Oxen,"? her new novel, which Mr.
An attempt to render the story Murray is publishing unfolds a of the discovery of the new world rama of deep penetration and li in fiction form has been made by sight, with the fashionable an literary New York for background. {Brown & Ca., Boston, G $2.00). Mary Johnstom in 1492" (Little,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.