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FANCIFUL BUT FORCEFUL.
The Eternal Fires.' by Victoria Cross:
T. Werner Laurie, London-This book
whose frontispiece is a fine copyright por
trait of the author, is not altogether of the
Kind which her legion admirers (240,000
copies of 'Anna Lombard' alone were sold)
have been led to expect. It is as well
written as, any of the many others she
has produced; but it is less of 'the earth,
earthy,' and more idealistic and fanciful.
Indeed, it might have been penned by Marie
Lorelli in her specially imaginative days—
the days of 'Ardath,' -The Soul of
Lilith,' and others of the same class. The
main theme is utterly impossible, even if
tlie environment did not altogether defy
the laws of gravitation; and one wonders
why a setting so complicated was chosen
to enforce the well-understood lessons
which are enjoined upon the reader; but
the book has a certain charm and un
doubted virility, and will be widely read.
There is passion in it— passion, in fact, is
tlie principal motive-but relatively to
other work of Victoria Cross's the passion
is subdued, and not flaunted. If the
volume cannot do any good, it cannot do
iny particular harm, and as literature it has
distinct claims to recognition.
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