Mr. Rupert Hughes has written a strong story and a true one in "The Man Without a Home"—(Jarrolds, London. 7/6) for the man without a home is John Howard Payne, for fever famous as the author of "Home Sweet Home" which was originally sung in his own opera "Clan" produced at Covent Garden in 1823, with music by Sir Henry Bishop. The book gives an admirable picture of Payne's Life, from the time of his arrival in London, a youthful and unknown actor from "America, prior to. his Ast appearance on the English stage young, Norval in John Home's tragedy "Douglas" at "the Park Theatre in 1809, si his death in Tunis in 1852. It tells of his triumphs and his failures, his generous nature, fand his selfless and undying love for Mary Godwin, and introduces many celebrities of the day, Byron, Keats, Charles Lamb, Southey, Leigh Hunt, Coleridge, Charles Kemble, Washing: ton Irving, ete, Mary. completely unaware of the distinguished, and tremendously popular actor's unspoken admiration, met the poet Shelley at the time when he was alienated from his wife. They fell violently in love and left England together and two yours later were married. Although Payne worshipped Mary for years, their friendship did not ripen till after Shelley's death by drowning in 1822. Unhappily, by this time his great success wis over, and he found him= self too heavily in debt to ask her {o share his precarious fortune. She returned his love to a certain degree, but he continued to keep silent and she died before he ever confessed it, Mary Godwin Shelley must have pos: sessed a remarkable personality, not only to have Inspired the love of two guch men, but to have written "Frankenstein," one of the most dreadful stories of horror ever con= ceived, and a most unusual creation to come from the pen of a young girl The book is well and skilfully written, "a trifle full-Aavoured.. per~ haps. but possibly" boltting the language of the time, with a masterly handling of events. Keeping closely to actual facts, which Is not always the'ease in the historical novel, shows the tragedy of a man too Une selfish to ask any return for the great love he bestowed, and 100 modest to claim his rights, for he received no money. for his world: renowned song, and died in a foreign Jand having achieved neither friends nor home ma Two decided contrasts make this cleverly written effort of Miss Eve Chaucer, "Better to Marry" (Hutehin= son, London. 7/6) the English coun try side with its infinite. pence tone side, and the hectic surroundings and climate of the French Colony in Africa on the other, while ther strained character of a young En Ushwoman is portrayed fo show the striking difference from. a French girl who spent the major part of her life under exotic and colonial elroumstances, The always interesting prob-Jem of step-mother and daughter intermingled with narrative. of the growing and blooming of love, The ook is brimful of witty remarks and the sophisticated way in which the characters of minor importance react to the joys and sorrows of the heroes and heroines shows a remarkable Sense of humour. And what is more, the tale follows you round while you yead it and holds you from cover, to cover. Delightful and Interesting Feading, to be compared to a vivid painting with an interesting: back-Bround and a great deal of action—
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.