Life, 1908-11-19 · page 26 of 28
Life — November 19, 1908 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a political cartoon page, but rather a **book advertisement and literary promotion section** from *Life* magazine. The left column features Harper & Brothers publisher announcements for newly issued fiction titles (works by Mrs. Humphry Ward, Robert Hichens, Hamilton Garland, and others), with brief descriptions and prices ranging from $1.35 to $1.75. The right side promotes **Jack London's novel *Martin Eden*** serializing in *The Pacific Monthly* magazine. The text describes it as a character study of a fighter struggling against poverty and ignorance in San Francisco—London's "latest story with intense interest." **For modern readers:** This page documents early 1900s literary culture, showing which authors were considered significant (Henry James, William Dean Howells appear in "The Whole Family" collaborative novel), typical book prices, and how magazines serialized popular fiction to drive subscriptions. There is no satire or political commentary present—it's straightforward publishing industry content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Harper & Brothers Fiction Just Issued THE TESTING OF DIANA MALLORY By Mrs. Humenry Warp. This is by far the strongest story in its purely human appeal that Mrs. Ward has written. It is, too, the most dramatic- novel that charms and thrills asa story first of all. In addition it has in full measure the grace and distinction for which Mrs. Ward is: celebrated. The tense, yet tender, story of a girl who, on the eve of her betrothal to the son of a great house, comes into cruel knowl- edge concerning her dead mother.’ The man is given the opportunity of sheltering her in this time of storm and he— how does he meet it? That is the story. Eight illustrations in Sepia from the original paintings by W. Hatherell, R. I. Post 8vo, cloth - - - - A SPIRIT IN PRISON By Rosert Hicnens. Here is, at last, another “Garden of Allah "—a book with all the atmospheric power of Hichens’ great masterpiece. A SPIRIT IN P| RISON is anew wonder work with the charm of a fresh new stot The scene is Italy. Human love is as sunny as its of passion are like the sudden storms that break over its blue lakes. Italy's people, its shores and islands, are brought to all but sight and sound in these pages. The love story in- volves an English woman, her husband and her daughter in a gripping way. Illustrated. Post 8vo, cloth - - $1.75 THE SHADOW WORLD By Hamttn Gartanp. Here is a new hypothesis in explana- tion of the bewildering “spirit” forces, and Mr. Garland advances proof that this hypothesis m with the communication of the living wi cad. He sets forth, not talk, but the actual records. It is an amazing, convincing and’ wonderfully entertaining tale—an entrancing story. Post 8vo, cloth = - - + = $t35 GILBERT in By Witt N. Harsex. The story—laid in a Georgia village— of a feasts proud woman of the new order—a story that will appeal forcibly to every woman. This woman refuses to be put aside by her husband for the mere pretty face of a silly young girl Mr. Harben has set about finding the truth of the matter and the result is a great story—far in advance of his other popular novels. “With frontispiece. “Post 8vo, cloth - - - - - - - - $1.50 THE WHOLE FAMILY A novel by Twelve Authors. This is a strangely exciting story which rather runs away with one. It is the story of the engagement of a delightful young American girl and the way her family takes it. The curious thing is that while twelve distinguished authors have written it, it reads straight- away with breathless galloping. Each author wrote a chap- ter. The writers are: William Dean Howells, Mary E. Wil- kins Freeman, John Kendrick Bangs, Mary Raymond. Ship- man Andrews, Mary Stewart Cutting, Alice Brown, Henry van Dyke, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, zabeth Jordan, Edith Wyatt, Mary Heaton Vorse, Henry James. _ Illustrated. Post 8vo, cloth - - - - - = = = $150 THE WITCHING HOUR By Aucustus Tuomas. A love story filled with the light of a new idea—a great novel from the great play, reversing the usual order of writing. The novel has all the dramatic in- tensity of the play as well as the charm of Thomas’s adroit humor and compelling sentiment. There are three distinct and tender love stories. The wealth of romance Thomas has wrought out of telepathy and thought transference gives the story absolute novelty. Illustrated with eight moe chs from the play. Post 8vo, cloth - - $1.50 JACK LONDON’S NEW NOVEL Martin Eden Begins in the September issue of THE PACIFIC MONTHLY HE PACIFIC MONTHLY, of Portland, Oreyon, has just purchased for $7,000 Jack London’s novel, Martin Eden. It is 142,000 words length, and is a vivid picture of London’s struggle { obscurity to success. Every man who has red blood i his veins will read London’s latest story with int interest. Martin Eden is a character study—the story of a fighter—a fighter as a newsboy in the alleys of San Francisco; a fighter as a rowdy in slums; and, finally, a fighter for education and culture, struggling against the odds of common birth and vulgar environment, with a desperation of courage that presents a powerful blending of brutality of strength with sublimity of purpose. His inspiration is a woman of the higher sphere of life, but his motive is the mighty impulse that animates a soul and brain born to expand until fettering ignorance is sundcred and ignoble influence trampled under foot. It is not too much to say of Martin Eden that it pos- sesses more of fascination and virility, grips the imagina- tion and the sympathies more keenly, and imparts more of courage, than any book produced in years. The Pacific Monthly has many other big features besides ‘Jack’? London’s story. It is typically western, and is universally recognized as the leading magazine of the West. Not only is it a high class publication from a literary standpoint, but its artistic and beautiful pictures are making friends for it wherever it is seen. ‘The price of Zhe Pacific Monthly is $1.50 a year. If you will send your subscription at once we will send the September and October numbers without extra charge so as to include the opening chapters of Martin Eden. Fill out the following blank and mail with money order for $1.50 to THE PACIFIC MONTHLY, PORTLAND, ORE THE PACIFIC MONTHLY, Portland, Ore. Gentlemen : Enclosed find $1.50 for one year's subscription 10 The Pacific Monthly to begin with November, 1908 issue (September and October numbers to be sent free).