University of Virginia Library

The Realism of Mary Austin.

IF "The Financier" is predominantly commercial in atmosphere, and "A Man's World" humanitarian, "A Woman of Genius" (Doubleday, Page), by Mary Austin, is best described as a new interpretation of the eternal conflict between art and life. The theme has been treated a thousand times, and by masters. Mrs. Austin justifies her own story by bringing it up to date and setting it in the provincial America from which a stream of artistic talent flows at this moment into cities and into foreign countries. Francis Grierson, of England, after reading the book said: "When I realize that it is women like Mary Austin who have set their intellectual powers to work on the side of the women's movement everywhere, all doubts as to the triumph of their cause vanish." The San Francisco Bulletin observes:

"This big, gripping story of the trials, joys and sorrows of an aspiring young woman places Mrs. Austin among the few American novelists capable of giving us transcripts from life—real men and women—for 'A Woman of Genius' is pure, unadulterated realism. So cleverly has the author fashioned her story that one cannot think of it as fiction, which is, perhaps, the highest praise that can be accorded a novelist."