Good Books

The following estimates of books much in the public eye were made after careful consideration of the trend of critical opinion:

THE CITY OF LILKES--Anthony Pryde and R. K. Weekes--McBride ($2.00). The principality of Neuberg is just two blocks to the right from Ruritania and around the corner from Graustark. There Heinrich, the inordinately evil and charming Prince, passed his time between sending people he disliked to the guillotine, making epigrams and breaking women's hearts, while Valentin, who had all of George Washington's attributes except his false teeth, clad in a black domino, plotted revolution in a cellar. And St. Luc, the English Prime Minister, was nobly but quite platonically in love with the Princess, and Mercedes, a dancer, was in love with Valentin--and oh gosh, but life was complicated in Neuberg! But if you like imaginary countries-- and secret passages--and duels--and hasty rides through the night--and all the grand old blood-and-thunder-- here's by far the best romance of the Anthony-Hope-George-Barr-- McCutcheon stripe that has appeared for lo, these many long years.

ANNETTE AND BENNETT--Gilbert Canaan.--Seltzer ($2.00). A novel complete in itself as far as the plot goes but also forming part of "the Lawrie Saga"-- a literary sextet the composition of which has occupied Mr. Cannan's attention for the last ten years or more. The depressing environment of Thrigsby--a dingy manufacturing town--and a certain ingrown Puritanical stodginess of character combine to crush the Lawries and their connections under the weight of their own respectability. Some try to escape--James Lawrie via unintelligible humor and the pothouse--Annette, his daughter-in-law, by having quantities of children-- Stephen, his youthful grandson, by retiring into his own entirely unchildish mind. The struggles of these and others against Destiny and the respectable furnish the theme of the book.