Arms and the Woman
(S.S. McClure, 1899)
John Winthrop, a struggling New York journalist, gets offered an assignment in London. He's sent to replace his friend Hillars-- recently turned alcoholic. As it happens, Winthrop has just unsuccessfully proposed to Phyllis, his light o' love. But she rejects him, preferring friendship. He therefore grabs the opportunity for a change of scenery. When he arrives in London he meets Hillars, who tells him a strange story. While at an Imperial ball in the principality of B---, he was approached by the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia. She asked for his assistance in staging an elopement, as the reigning king wants her to marry a Prince against her will. Hillars falls in love with her and bungles the affair by passionately kissing her-- proving himself unworthy of the job. He's spotted by the Princess's bodyguards and railroaded out of the country. Then he begins a suicidal and reckless course. And by the time Winthrop arrives he's a jumble of nerves.
After their initial meeting, Hillars goes missing. And so does the princess. The IMperial Court thinks he has something to do with it. Soon, Winthrop's editor sends him to B---, to cover the missing princess case. When he gets there, he stops at an inn and meets a barmaid named Gretchen. He falls in love with her, especially since she's the spitting image of Phyllis. But what he doesn't realize is that Gretchen is actually the princess in disguise. She soon falls in love with Winthrop, but the deal threatens to explode in violence when a group of armed officers come to the inn and try to kiss her. Winthrop hurls one of the men to the floor, and finds himself precipitated into a duel. But Gretchen has him tied up by the innkeeper, and fights in his place! She is the best sword in the kingdom.
Now Hillars soon arrives at the inn. The authorities are looking for him. He and Winthrop band together to save the princess from her tormentors. Knowing he's on the verge of death, Hillars gives Winthrop his blessing regarding the newborn love affair. Then Hillars provokes a duel with the prince who's to marry Hildegarde. It's a duel with pistols, and Hillars is fatally wounded in the chest. After the solemn burial, Winthrop vows to get even and destroy the man who killed his friend-- and who now stands between him and his love. To complicate things, Phyllis and her family soon arrive as guests of the American minister, and the two women-- Phyllis and Hildegarde, who appear to be twins-- are brought face to face. Winthrop knows that he no longer loves Phyllis, but Hildegarde. The real issue though is, why are the two women so identical in feature? Dark hints concerning a child that was abandoned years ago make Winthrop seeks evidence that Phyllis is Hildegarde's sister. If he can prove it so, Phyllis will have a joint right to the crown, and the Prince-- who's an "all or nothing" man-- will relinquish his claims to Hildegarde's hand. Then Winthrop and Hildegarde will be together.
They say you can tell more about an author from his first novel than by all his later works combined. If that be true, then Arms and the Woman showcases some extraordinary talent and a rare depth of understanding. It seems amazing that a twenty-eight year old should have garnered such a wealth of human experience. But MacGrath started out in a newspaper office. And his knowledge of real people and situations imparts life and warmth to a work which would else be a piece of mechanism. The tale is a classic of genre fiction that can best be described as "Imperial Intrigue." During the late-Victorian and early-Edwardian era heaps of novels of this type were published. The market for such books was probably cornered by A.W. Marchmont, albeit Richard Harding Davis wrote one or two pieces of lasting importance. Though an American, MacGrath's knowledge of European politics-- in theory if not fact-- contributes much to the enjoyability of the book. The reader feels he is actually amongst the characters.
The prose is typically late-Victorian in style, though MacGrath seldom gets caught in any rhetorical somersaults. He adapts a clear and concise style which provides a refreshing break from the highfalutin' buncombe of the day. By 1899, the school of Bulwer Lytton and Theophile Gautier had fallen out of fashion. And writers such as Henry Harland and Jack London found -- to the enthusiasm of the reading public-- that one could achieve artistic merit without being prolix. He might even become popular! Arms and the Woman is a case in point. Notwithstanding its clean style, some of the descriptive and poetic passages are scarcely equaled. The influence of Alexandre Dumas is also strongly felt. And, in fact, this novel has all the vivacity and charm of the old master himself. A keen love of life, romance, and adventure courses throughout every page. Although the plot becomes somewhat far-fetched as the story advances, it rounds out into a real sockdolager that shouldn't be missed-- unless you're the super-fastidious anal type. In that case, give yourself a wide berth.
For some reason I haven't figured out, Arms and the Woman stands as one of MacGrath's most collectible books. It seldom goes for sale on Ebay without commanding moderately high prices. The original edition was published by S.S. McClure in 1899. The copy I have is the Grosset & Dunlap reprint, which appeared in 1905. This latter edition has a cover by Harrison Fisher. The earlier McClure edition is a lot harder to find and goes for higher prices. Also, a recent edition has been made available by Kessinger Publishing. It retails for $30, which a bit high-- as one can usually obtain used copies for cheaper than that. However, it may make a welcome addition to your shelf of trade paperbacks. As for the story itself, it's definitely one of MacGrath's best efforts, & probably takes second place to Man on the Box (1904). It certainly is a remarkable book, and shows a natural talent for tale-telling that is rare as stardust. It is even rarer, of course, to create a good book that is both artistically and commercially feasible. But Arms and the Woman admirably meets these criteria.
--B.A.S.
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