HATTER'S CASTLEA. J. CroninLittle, Brown ($2.50).
Except that it soon mentions things unmentionable in the 1870's, Hatter's Castle starts off like a midmost Victorian novel. Before you reach its final (605th) page you will probably have ceased to notice its old-fashionedness, will have surrendered yourself to what is undoubtedly a Big Novel.
In the Scotch town of Levenford, James Brodie, hatter, independent as a hog on ice, was considered an outstanding citizen, considered himself preeminent. That he was merely a hatter was a source of amusement to him; his business had brought...