GREATER LOVE.
The Newcastle Chronicle says:--"Though of a totally different character from "Lest We Forget," Mr. Hocking"s latest story is ent.i.tled to take rank along with that fine romance. The story arrests the attention from the first chapters, and soon becomes highly dramatic."
LEST WE FORGET.
Public Opinion says:--"His story is quite as good as any we have read of the Stanley Weyman"s school, and presents an excellent picture of the exciting times of Gardiner and Bonner."
AND SHALL TRELAWNEY DIE?
The British Weekly says:--"We can strongly recommend both stories as healthy and hearty tales, sensational but not incredible."
The Weekly Sun says:--"An engaging and fascinating romance. The reader puts the story down with a sigh, and wishes there were more of these breezy Cornish uplands, for Mr. Joseph Hocking"s easy style of narrative does not soon tire."
JABEZ EASTERBROOK.
The Rock says:--"Real strength is shown in the sketches, of which that of Brother Bowman is most prominent. In its way it is delightful."
The Record says:--"A book that can be read with interest and with profit. A clever tale, cleverly told."
THE WEAPONS OF MYSTERY.
"Weapons of Mystery" is a singularly powerful story of occult influences and of their exertion for evil purposes. Like all Mr.
Hocking"s novels, "Weapons of Mystery" has an underlying religious and moral purpose, but merely as a story, and quite apart from the purpose which was in the mind of the author, the tale has a curious fascination for the reader. The cleverly conceived plot, and the strange experience of the hero and heroine make "Weapons of Mystery" a story which it is not easy to put down when once commenced.
ZILLAH: A ROMANCE.
The Spectator says:--"The drawing of some of the characters indicates the possession by Mr. Hocking of a considerable gift of humour. The contents of his book indicate that he takes a genuine interest in the deeper problems of the day."
THE MONK OF MAR-SABA.
The Star says:--"Great power and thrilling interest.... The scenery of the Holy Land has rarely been so vividly described as in this charming book of Mr. Hocking"s."
The Manchester Guardian says:--"The author has turned his visit to Palestine to good account.... His descriptions of the wild scenery of different parts of the Holy Land are both vigorous and graphic, and the stories themselves are interesting."
THE PURPLE ROBE.
The Queen says:--"Mr. Hocking"s most interesting romance. It is exceedingly clever, and excites the reader"s interest and brings out the powerful nature of the clever young minister. This most engrossing book challenges comparison with the brilliance of Lothair. Mr. Hocking has one main fact always before him in writing his books--to interest his readers and he certainly succeeds admirably in doing so."
THE SCARLET WOMAN.
The Methodist Recorder says:--"This is Mr. Hocking"s strongest and best book. We advise every one to read it. The plot is simple, compact and strenuous; the writing powerful. It brings out sharply the real character of the typical Jesuit, his training, motives, limitations, aims."
ALL MEN ARE LIARS.
The Christian World says:--"This is a notable book. Thoughtful people will be fascinated by its actuality, its fearlessness, and the insight it gives into the influence of modern thought and literature upon the minds and morals of our most promising manhood."
The Standard says:--"A striking book.... It is strong and earnest and vigorous; it shows knowledge of the lower cla.s.s, and impatience and contempt of shams of all sorts."
ISHMAEL PENGELLY: AN OUTCAST.
The Record says:--"As a story this book is a splendid piece of writing; every detail is interesting, and the situations it creates are novel and striking."
The Athenaeum says:--"The book is to be recommended for the dramatic effectiveness of some of the scenes. The wild, half-mad woman is always picturesque wherever she appears, and the rare self-repression of her son is admirably done."
THE STORY OF ANDREW FAIRFAX.
The Manchester Examiner says:--"Rustic scenes and characters are drawn with free, broad touches, without Mr. Buchanan"s artificiality, and, if we may venture to say it, with more realism than Mr. Hardy"s country pictures."
The Liverpool Mercury says:--"Beautifully told. There are few books better adapted to widen the mind and discipline the judgment than this n.o.ble story."
THE BIRTHRIGHT.
The Spectator says:--"This volume proves beyond all doubt that Mr.
Hocking has mastered the art of the historical romancist. "The Birthright" is, in its way, quite as well constructed, as well written, and as full of incident as any story that has come from the pen of Mr.
Conan Doyle or Mr. Stanley Weyman."
MISTRESS NANCY MOLESWORTH.
The Scotsman says:--""Mistress Nancy Molesworth" is as charming a story of the kind as could be wished, and it excels in literary workmanship as well as in imaginative vigour and daring invention.... It would hardly be possible to tell a story of its kind better, or to leave the reader better pleased at the end."
FIELDS OF FAIR RENOWN.
The Scotsman says:--"Mr. Joseph Hocking"s "Fields of Fair Renown" is a novel with a purpose, and the theme is worked out with a good deal of force and effective power.... it is both interesting and powerful."
The Dundee Advertiser says:--"Mr. Hocking has produced a work which his readers of all cla.s.ses will appreciate.... There are exhibited some of the most beautiful aspects of disposition."
LOUIS TRACY
A FATAL LEGACY.
The Scotsman says:--"In all the annals of fiction a more ingenious or startlingly original plot has not been recorded."
RAINBOW ISLAND.
The Literary World says:--"Those who delight in tales of adventure should hail "Rainbow Island" with joyous shouts of welcome. Rarely have we met with more satisfying fare of this description than in its pages."
THE ALBERT GATE AFFAIR.
The Birmingham Post says:--"An excellent detective tale, brimful of adventure. Told in Mr. Tracy"s best style."
THE PILLAR OF LIGHT.
The Evening Standard says:--"So admirable, so living, so breathlessly exciting a book. The magnificent realism of the lighthouse and its perils, the intense conviction of the author, that brings the very scene he pictures before the reader"s eyes with hardly a line of detached description, the interest of the terrible dilemma of the cut off inhabitants of the "Pillar" are worthy of praise from the most jaded reader."
HEART"S DELIGHT.
The Dundee Advertiser says:--"The name of Louis Tracy on the covers of a volume is a sufficient guarantee that the contents are worthy of perusal. His latest novel, "Heart"s Delight," establishes more firmly than ever the reputation which he founded on "The Final War"; like that notable book it has a strong martial flavour."