14 JUNE 1913, Page 25

The Alias. By Alexander Crawford. (William Blackwood and Sons. 6s.)—This

is an entertaining novel of contem- porary life, and is rather more serious in intention than some of Mr. Crawford's former work. The heroine is a mere figure-bead, and the real hero is her father, Edward Bevington, known under the alias of Edward Dittany. He has already " done time " before the beginning of the book, and is subject to much annoyance from a fellow ex-convict, Roger Tregarth. The blackmailing part of the book is somewhat confused, but the account of Dittany's wonderful business enterprises is lifelike and entertaining. The adventures of the jeune premier on the West Coast of Africa are also sketched in an interesting manner, though the scenes are merely given in outline.