AustLit

Humorous country US romance. Chiefly describes the difficulties of a Mississippi clerk in reaching the farm where his sweetheart lives - crossing a river without the ferry, losing and chasing his horse, and escaping the farm dogs. Light. (PB)

Murder and detective tale from France. The house servant of a miserly former rag-picker living near Paris in the 1870s discovers the hiding places of the old man's money and she and her lover murder him. They are eventually arrested in their disguise as a count and countess by a helpful rag-picker, a detective and two colossal diamonds. Basic narrative. (PB)

A New York gentleman is advised to go south to recover his health and when his father's old coachman returns a wealthy cattleman from California and offers him a position he accepts. He bids farewell to the young girl he loves, they correpond for several years, and finally he asks her to come west and marry him. When she arrives with her mother she does not recognise him in his rough garb but when he has visited his tailor, barber, etc, she feels her old feelings revive; and he has become his own rival. Lightly written with theme a little unusual. (PB)

Young Jane Wilmot is - to her own surprise - the chosen bride of a famous London artist. But she understands all when he tells her the tale of his youthful love for her aunt who died a month before they could legally be married, Jane's grandfather being totally opposed to the match ... Slight. (PB)

On the amusing scenes in the telegraph office when announcements of births are sent, particularly by first-time fathers. (PB)

A French doctor attempting to stablish a Melbourne practice is summoned by beautiful Gloriana Pennoyer to examine her rich uncle for suspected madness. The doctor and his wife who he introduces to the house as nurse are convinced he is not mad and that his niece is trying to obtain his will falsely. They summon Mark Sinclair who witnesses the uncle's death from poison and his evidence of his niece's careful administration of it. (PB)

A forty year-old groom's jealousy is aroused when he sees his wife covertly receive a letter. Her reluctance to speak of it and his discovery of part of the letter fuel the fires until he learns - at the bridal suite - that it was from the dentist about two false teeth. (PB)

Scenes from his life fighting in the Civil War visit a veteran soldier dying in a poor-house. Impressionistic. (PB)

A widowed London cockney nurse recalls the temptation she received from an idle scheming 'gentleman' to let his wife - his sister's governess - and her newborn baby die so that he can marry his rich cousin. She refuses and on the husband's death restores his wife and child to a loving grandfather - and is herself rewarded along with her six children and alcoholic mother ... Amusing melodrama from pragmatic point of view. (PB)

A chance acquaintance on a train from Calais to London fires a young man with desire for his mysterious and beautiful travelling companion. Eventually he follows her to St Petersburg to discover she is a spy and an assassin ... Brief, high-flown. (PB)

A lawyer's plea of his mother's illness to postpone a hearing is destroyed when the lady herself is in court. (PB)

Humorous American version of an affair in Paris. Three veterans of the Civil War arrange an absurd duel when challenged by a Frenchman - desirous to avoid loss of life. Their courage is shown when fire breaks out on a tourist steamer on the Seine. (PB)

Tale of romance, greed and attempted robbery set in London. Beautiful loving Rachel Monk believes her grandfather's tale of his poor salary until Walter, a clerk in the same counting house, tells her the truth. Walter watches the old man after office hours one night and discovers his miserly obsession. His vigil also helps him solve - with the help of a detective - the old man's disappearance and an attempted robbery by another workman. The old man's hoard is discovered but his mind collapses and he comes to care only for Rachel and Walter's affection ... Competent if stilted. (PB)

English tale of impersonation and theft. A cunning parlour-maid takes advantage of the arrival of her master's long-lost friend to substitute her husband in his place in an attempt to steal the family silver. Set in the cheery domesticity of a young married couple's country house. (PB)