By ST. JOHN G. ERVINE
Cloth, 12mo, $1.35
The central figure in this truthful picture of Irish home life is Mrs. Martin—an exceedingly interesting character—-a, steadfast, self-reliant woman who through the exercise of common sense averts a domestic tragedy and brings harmony into a troubled household. No less an unusual creation, however, is James—"Mrs. Martin's Man." Intolerant, overbearing but yet possessed of a certain romantic attractiveness, he is one of the most commanding characterizations of recent fiction.
Mr. Ervine's style is agreeable; it is simple and full of the tang and flavor of Irish speech, though there is little of the conventional dialect usually connected with Irish stories. The theme is marked by an absence of cant and conventionalism and by a love and wisdom for mankind that are most pleasing.
Though this is Mr. Ervine's first novel, his plays depicting Irish characters have been produced with considerable success at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. In "Mrs. Martin's Man" as in his dramas, he gives a faithful portraiture of the simple folk of Erin.
"A story of remarkable power and workmanship."—N. Y. Sun.
"An intimate picture of Irish life. Brings with it the force of an overwhelming truth. It is not merely plausible, it is convincing from its first word to its last"—Boston Transcript.
"An almost perfect literary performance, and a most interesting and unhackneyed story."—N. Y. Globe.
"Far out of the usual groove of fiction.... One of the finest, most sincere stories which have come this way for many a year."—Brooklyn Eagle.
"I have seldom read so spontaneously appealing a story of Irish life. It breathes the frank open nature, the naive humor of Ulster in every line. One could not imagine a more pathetic, yet withal noble figure than Martha Martin."—London Globe.