Sub-t.: “Being the love story of an ugly man”—viz., Bellairs, a confirmed bachelor, who tells his own story. Overhears in restaurant conversation of a young man, from which he learns that the latter is about to marry a young West Indian girl named Clarissa, but cares only for her money. Bellairs is struck with pity for her, and determines to tell Clarissa of the worthlessness of Harry. He goes to the W. of Ireland, where Harry had left her in charge of two maiden aunts. She will not believe him, and goes to London with Harry. He betrays and deserts her: she comes back forlorn to Bellairs, and they are married. The writer has a keen feeling for nature, and there is much description. The character study is careful and the style is full of pleasant whimsicalities. The “Cruikshank” and “Bellwattle” of The Patchwork Papers reappear here.
⸺ THIRTEEN. Pp. 279. (Chapman & Hall). 1912.
Short stories reproduced from magazines. Three of the thirteen are little bits of Irish—Wexford—life:—“The Little Sisters of Mercy,” “An Idyll of Science,” and “Holy Ann.” The rest deal with London. There is sentimentality and mannerism, but the literary craftsmanship is very good.
⸺ THE PASSIONATE CRIME: a Tale of the Faerie. Pp. 311. 6s. (Chapman & Hall). 1915.
“The story of a strange murder—the murderer a poet—solitary among the romantic atmosphere of the lonely Irish hills.”—(Times Lit. Sup.).
THURSTON, Katherine Cecil. B. Cork in 1875. Dau. of Paul Madden, a friend of Parnell, and at one time nationalist mayor of Cork. She began to write only in 1903, and married E. Temple Thurston, q.v. Died at Cork, 1911. In this short period appeared six or seven novels. Of John Chilcote, M.P., her greatest success, it is estimated that 200,000 copies were sold in America alone.
⸺ THE GAMBLER. (Hutchinson). 6s., and 6d. n.d. (1906). (N.Y.: Harper). 1.50.
A psychological study of an Irish woman’s character. Treats of Protestant upper middle class society, but questions of creed do not enter into the book. The scene for about the first third of the book is laid in Ireland, in an out-of-the-way country district. Then it shifts to Venice, and afterwards to London. In both places the heroine moves in a smart set, whose empty life and petty follies are well drawn. There is a problem of pathetic interest centering in two ill-assorted marriages. The part about Irish life, showing the foolish pride of some of the Irish gentry, is skilfully and sympathetically done.
⸺ THE FLY ON THE WHEEL. Pp. 327. (Blackwood). 6s. (N.Y.: Dodd & Mead). 1.50. 1908.