Felix Dorrien. By Reginald Lucas. (Ward and Downey.)— This rather
too long and in certain respects somewhat common- place novel tells with not unpleasant variations the old story of man's injustice to woman and of woman's revenge. Felix Dorrien, who ought to have been another Coningsby, and whose strictly masculine beauty is quite "god-like," falls in love with Rosamund Foster, and Rosamund with him. After a good deal of shilly-shally- ing, he throws her over because a marriage with her would interfere with his political career, and she very nearly dies. She is, however, consoled in a genuine and nr...t a merely conventional fashion by Lord Windleshatn, Felix's most intimate friend, and a much better man, though not nearly so handsome. Rosamund soon learns not only to respect but to love her husband, and sets herself to make him a great political success. She accomplishes her enterprise ; while Felix Dorrien, although he marries Lady Ermyntrude Bolton —loving Rosamund more than ever—becomes, in course of time, a failure. Yet Felix, if selfish, is not thoroughly bad, although he gives his wife an overdose of chloral in mistake. With Rosa- mund's help, he secures a Colonial Governorship ; while he is holding it, he is enabled to make a second and very brilliant suc- cess in literature. He comes home, and his beautiful daughter, Althea, marries Rosamund's son. Greater poetical justice than this of course there could not be. Felix Dorrien deals with British politics ; but few of the personages in it—none, perhaps, except a certain Mr. Carruthers—look as if they had been drawn from the life. The book is, however, carefully written, and is thoroughly wholesome reading.
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