AustLit

Hostile reception of a vegetarian preacher in a farming household. Probably US. (PB)

A young lawyer falls asleep and dreams of a ball he is to attend that night where he is told small painful truths about his conversation, his appearance and his dancing ... When he finally awakes he decides to go to bed rather than the ball. Slight; humorous. (PB)

Narrative of revenge set in England. A shopman dismissed from his job and tried for theft determines upon revenge - which begins with causing his former employer's bankruptcy and finally has him hanged for a theft of which he was innocent. The criminal confesses after his own sentence of execution and implicates his implacable judge in the miscarriage of justice. Realist narrative, with detail predominating over style. (PB)

Of the reversals of fortune of Prince Louis Napoleon, one time neglected resident of London, later Emperor of France. Brief. (PB)

English romance. A seven year engagement between a school teacher and a young doctor is broken when he decides to go to Rangoon. Faced with a desolate future she receives another proposal and decides to accept it - only to discover it is all a mistake, and that she loses also her first suitor who had relented. After long years of separation they are reunited. Slight. (PB)

English murder story. Well-worn tale of a night spent at a roadside inn in bad weather, a landlord's murder plot, and the landlord's son is killed in his sleep. Predictable, competent. (PB)

A vacationing doctor treats a Scottish girl who injures herself leaving the tourist boat at Lucerne, becoming well-acquainted with her family. He 'dreams' one night of a very handsome young man who enters her room and stabs her in the heart. Several weeks later on his return to London he recognises the dream figure and follows him to the house of the girl's family and finds she is engaged to him. Purportedly true. (PB)

Humorous description of the labours of the ant. (PB)

US frontier romance. An Indian attack upon a farmhouse near Chippewa, USA, enables Norah Carter to assess the qualities of her suitors and she chooses the honest stalwart Philip Barker over his more urbane rival. Simple tale with lengthy description of the attack and Norah's role in their defence. (PB)

A careless husband's neglect of his wife while seeking their fortune on the California goldfields - his failure to write even one letter, breaks her heart. She and her child die the day before he finally does so, and sends some money. Slight; overworked sentiment. (PB)

Sketch of a wild Irish lord who lived and drank hard, fighting a duel from his armchair in his 80th year. (PB)

New neighbours are a welcome addition to isolated Mrs Chickwit's life until their continual borrowing and carelessness - including borrowing her baby - change her opinion sharply. (PB)

A mother's grief for the loss of her infant son is finally quelled by rough Janet's honesty. Pathos/sentiment. (PB)

Sinclair is sent to the farthest outback station with despatches. On his way an old man's apparition visits him demanding justice. At the station he discovers the policeman Frouth and the landlord of the nearby 'inn' have killed the old man for his gold. Sinclair solves the crime with the aid of an honest traveller and the old man's daughter who feigns madness. Odd conclusion where the stolen gold is hidden secretly underground. (PB)

US light romance. A father steals his son's intended bride in New York to put their business in order - but two years later the son marries his step-mother's daughter, also an heiress. (PB)

Light adventure. Five intending suicides agree to undertake a hazardous trip to the North Pole by balloon but on the way share their tales, find solutions to their woes, and decide to live. Silly. (PB)

Tales of an infant rescued by a ship of British sailors in the Atlantic Ocean, the love they come to feel for him in caring for him, and his sudden death which grieves them all. Pleasantly written; counterpoints the square unaccustomed fingers of the rough sailors and the feelings the baby arouses. (PB)

Sketch of a wolf pack on the US prairie and the vain but valiant fight of a dead hunter's dog to protect his master's body. Impressionistic. (PB)

Anecdote of a Chinese Emperor who made friends of his enemies by treating them well as captives. Exemplary. (PB)