No. 1.—Children of Chance.
By HERBERT LLOYD.
PRESS OPINIONS.
“Mr. Lloyd has redeemed his story by sprightly incident and some admirable character sketches. Madge, whom the hero eventually marries, is a charming creation, and yet ‘not too light and good for human nature’s daily food.’ Her sister and her husband, Tom Coltman, are also a fine couple, and Mr. Lloyd introduces us to some very clever scenes at the theatre at which they perform. The hero’s sister, Gladys, is another favourite, and the family to which she is introduced consists of many persons in whom the reader is bound to take an interest. Mr. Lloyd works up the climax in a truly masterly manner, and the discovery of the father of the ‘children of chance,’ is ingenious and clever. In short we have little but praise for this book.... The reader’s interest is aroused from the first and is sustained to the end. There is pathos in the story and there is humour, and Mr. Lloyd writes very gracefully and tenderly where grace and tenderness are needed.”—Birmingham Daily Gazette.
“The story ... is full of action and movement, and is never dull.”—The Scotsman.
“Messrs. William Andrews & Co., of Hull, have opened their ‘Library of Popular Fiction’ with a brightly-written novel by Herbert Lloyd, entitled ‘Children of Chance.’ The treatment of the story is distinctly above the average.... The character of Richard Framley, though a minor one, is very cleverly limned, and a forcible piece of writing in the last chapter but one, will leave a vivid impression even to the reader who merely skims the book. Altogether the ‘Library’ has reached a high standard with its initial volume.”—Eastbourne Observer.
“Those who can appreciate a good story told in plain and simple language will probably find a good deal of pleasure in perusing ‘Children of Chance,’ by Herbert Lloyd. It is altogether devoid of sensationalism. At the same time one feels an interest in the various couples who are introduced, and whose love-making is recorded in a very agreeable manner.... Mr. Lloyd succeeds in depicting an effective scene at the final denouement, the period before it being attractively filled in. It is artistically worked out.”—Sala’s Journal.
“The story is strengthened by the interest attaching to its women, and by a certain lightness of touch and naturalness in the portrayal of the life of an artistic family. Some of the characters are both well drawn and likeable, and one or two strong incidents redeem the general tone of the plot.”—Glasgow Herald.
“This is decidedly a good novel, and the plot is sufficiently exciting to attract a reader and hold him to the end.”—The Publishers’ Circular.
“The author of ‘Children of Chance,’ grasps one of the first essentials of fiction, dramatic effect.... There is no lack of new ideas, and the story is not uninteresting.”—The Literary World.