A Hardy Norseman. By Edna Lyall. (Hurst and Blackett.) Frankly
admitting that Miss Edna Lyall's latest novel is dis- appointing, and being of opinion that one reason for its falling-off from the standard of merit set up by its predecessors, is the laying of the scene chiefly in " healthy old Norway," on account of a superficial acquaintance with that country, we are far from denying praise and liking to this book. But it belongs to the class of preachy novels, and these are objectionable, whether their animus be for or against any of the creeds, because they pervert the purposes and distort the pictures of fiction. No doubt Miss Edna Lyall has been actuated by a desire to place beyond doubt her own Christian conviction and sympathies—(these may have been called in question by superficial minds among the readers of " We Two," her finest work)—but her artistic sense ought to have warned her against yielding to that desire so fully as to render her recalcitrant, ultimately-to-be-converted hero the bore he undeniably is. Frithiof is intended to represent high-couraged strength ; but he is not so much strong as obstinate, and we are never roused into caring very much for his "fighting soul." There is also a curious disproportion in this novel ; it is almost flatly prosaic in parts, and yet it contains startling improbabilities. The god comes out of the car with a jump-up like a Jack-in-the-box. Nevertheless, there is a great deal in the book that is charming ; the drawing of Cecil's faithful and patient character is excellent; and those readers who care for more than the story will find many passages on which to dwell with pleasure and profit.
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