The Red Virgin. By G. F. Turner. (Hodder and Stoughton.
6e.)—In the town of Weidenbruck, in the year 1911, Karl, the young and rightful heir to the throne, Cyril, Regent and ambitious villain, Fritz von Friedrichebeim, and many others, fought out the destinies of the kingdom of Grimland and, incidentally, their own loves and bates. There were riots and bloodshed in the fight, and full-flavoured romaike and splendid heroism, and in Mr. Turner's hands it all makes a capital story, reminiscent of Zenda, and of the brave deeds that were done there. Mr. Turner is a newcomer to the ranks of novelists, and, with a wider experience, he will become more
skilled in the art of brevity. He will also realize that even in the writing of a book of adventure there is a call to use fine, pure English, and will, it is to be hoped, find time for more careful reading of his proof-sheets. These faults are, how- ever, easily forgiven, since Mr. Turner has discovered the real secret of romance—the victory of true, human men and women, in incredible situations, against overwhelming odds; and we _congratulate him on a stirring story and on the possession of sufficient moral courage to allow virtue to triumph in the end.
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