“There are pathos and humor in the book, and both the pathos and the humor grip the reader tightly.”
+ N. Y. Times. 11: 388. Je. 16, ’06. 120w.
“These are stories of the kind men like—told with considerable vigor and dealing with active life.”
+ Putnam’s. 1: 127. O. ’06. 80w.
Paine, Ralph Delahaye. Story of Martin Coe; il. by Howard Giles. $1.50. Outing pub.
Martin Coe, gunner’s mate, deserts from the American navy to lead a revolution in a South American state. By a strange chance he comes at length to a little Maine village where his regeneration begins. It is love that clarifies his nature, and brings to the surface the broken oath, neglected duty, general culpableness. His honor demands atonement, and his obedience to the call sends him back to the navy to serve out his term.
“The best thing about the book, however, is the fact that, though Martin is regenerated, he remains he same Martin Coe to the end—a typical sailor hero—than whom there is not any better either in real life or in fiction.”
+ + N. Y. Times. 11: 692. O. 20, ’06. 540w. + N. Y. Times. 11: 798. D. 1, ’06. 120w.
“The character is well enough conceived, but a touch of caricature throughout weakens the personality and decidedly impairs the love story. The book as a character-study is lacking in close interpretation.”