MERLANT, JOACHIM. Soldiers and sailors of France in the American war for independence (1776–1783); tr. by Mary Bushnell Coleman. *$2 Scribner 973.3
20–7496
“‘Soldiers and sailors of France in the American war for independence’ is an account of the part played by our allies during the Revolution, written by one who participated in the world war. The author is Capt Joachim Merlant, assistant professor of the faculty of letters in the university of Montpellier, who, after a few months with the territorials, joined an active unit as infantry officer. Severely wounded in 1915 he never fully recovered, and being unable to fight resolved instead to write and talk for his cause. Thus he came to America, and from January to May in 1916 he lectured throughout the country. And through his gratitude toward America he decided to investigate the Franco-American alliance of 1778–1783 and retell the story of Rochambeau and LaFayette.”—Springf’d Republican
Booklist 16:341 Jl ’20 + Springf’d Republican p7a N 28 ’20 420w
MERRICK, HOPE (BUTLER-WILKINS) (MRS LEONARD MERRICK). Mary-girl; a posthumous novel. *$2.50 Dutton
20–8792
“Ezra Sheppard is a man with a consuming ideal. A devout Quaker, it is his dream to build a seemly meeting-house instead of the dilapidated barn where the Friends have hitherto met. The lavish terms offered for the services of Mary in nourishing the Earl of Folkington’s heir would convert his dream into real stone and lime. So he lets Mary go. Mary, poor girl, with the best will in the world, finds when her year is up that the life of a working gardener’s wife is not so pleasant as it used to be. And Ezra behaves badly about it, too. He repents, it is true, and realizes that his idol has cost him too dear, but not before Mary has been brought to shame, and his repentance takes the form of attempted arson.”—The Times [London] Lit Sup
+ Booklist 17:34 O ’20