Hide Article Text (OCR)
SOMETHING NEW.“Tbe Thousand nnd One Indian Night*, bv A. Sarath Kuinar Ghosh; William HeineinaHin, London.—The moat inded of render* may open this volume with the assurance of finding n novel in the true *eate of the word—ttwt it, of course, if he has not read the story an it appeared in the pages of a popular magazine. The trials of Narovan Lai present a aerie* of effect* florgeou-ly heaped up. He had dared to love the daughter of a King in the thrice-idewed hind that lies ootwccn th* mcred waters of the Jumna rfnd the Ganges.” nnd when he claitm-d to be no oere court juggler, as he seemed, but a prince of royal blood, he wb* bidden to prove it by coming unscathed through six test*. He must ascend a lofty tower, already tottering to ita fall, walk tiirougii fire, tike poison, bo buried alive for a week, and so through a series of cruel trials. It is perhaps unfortunate that n safe emergence from them all can almost be taken for granted. Also, the author has with great ingdnuitv suggested after each of the earlier chapters a method of erplun.ition for each seemingly miraculous escape— hypnotism, suspended animation, or sheer juggling. Toe reader might well prefer «o accept the miraculousSimages come near the end, where perils ire to he encountered by simple courage and nkilV—with a happv admixture of luck. The hero does some most thrilling hidfag from Thug* 111 a lonelv valley, th .»n attains to a dismal envern in search of an idol's eye • nnd there a Tiling comes upon him in the dnrknevn.In that supreme crisis it was mere iiiaiintl thu. o.oinpi d ii m in mt. tl.e love lt;1 nan lor hii life. He turned on lii* aide, curved Ills lent Inwards under him. an in Ii at a time, lest the s.iund »hUld betray him. lie vray- d for time—jufct the bun- moiiienU to curl htn-aelf by the altar rail*. Slowly tbe knee* came up, too *l»w for m.h u piril. He felt a iwcjth upon Ida fa c. Tiic str-nje intermilt.nt round had m-u to a at.ud\ ftuiv. T.ir cold, clnmouriig wind enshrouded him like a bluat f. urn a Kmc 'Hie 'Hi mr 'Ui ui-'ti him —a 'Wk nviaa laming over him! O llhmt-\v*n, grant om- single moment—un« winglo ■pan to recede in silence: One little *i*uif01 a human life—Teo Intel too lute!But of course it wn-n't too late. An earthquake was waiting for him outside, with a flond to follow; and so to m arena where, under 40,WO wondenng eyes, u mad. dent'd elephant and a hungry tiger might dtwpute for his remain*. It i« all very spacious and reckless nnd Oriental; the author's nationality a-sures Uiut. The mere Caucasian cun never form nn sdeu an to whflt the clairacters will *n.v or do Sjext, aud hence the ta-de of utter novelty which gives the hook its charm.
Newspaper Details
, ,
Mon, Jan 01, 0001
Page 0
Full Page
Clipped by
Rob J.
AU 26 Jul 2022
Other Publications Near ,
Adelaide Saturday Journal
Adelaide Suedaustralische Zeitung
Adelaide Sport
Adelaide Quiz and the Lantern
Adelaide Quiz
