THE IMPERTURBABLE DUCHESS. By J. D. Beresford. (Collins. 7s. 6d.
net.)
-- Jr is very seldom that the reviewer of fiction nds himself more concerned with the -preface to a volume than its contents. The introduction, however, to Mr. Beresford's volume of short stories is so original and entertaining that it overshadows Ibe stories themselves. Nay, more the author, shows
himself in this introduction an adept in the process known in the nursery as "taking the gilt off the gingerbread." People who wish to be entertained by the stories proper will do well to read the introduction after they have read the volume, for in what Mr. Beresford calls " Author's Advice," which should really have been called " Advice to Authors," Mr. Beresford analyses his own stories- greatly to their detriment. The thesis of his advice is the writing of short stories, and it must be owned that what he himself calls " this unpleasant dissection " is very disillusioning. His dictum on manner as opposed to matter may however be applied to many forms of literature outside the short story. " The essential is con- densation, and that is one of the marks of a good, literary style, and the American magazine public appreciate good writing." Omit " American magazine " and that sentence might be a beacon to many people " commencing author." As for the stories themselves, it is enough to say that their author apparently does not care for them, but the reader, whose standard is presumably not quite so high, will find many ingenious, if improbable, situations and a great deal of careful work.
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