Cirrus@Austlit

'Several of Hilda Bridges' novels, such as 'Spindrift' and 'House of the Winds' have been published in the Herald. To-morrow another one, entitled 'Chinese Jade' will begin in serial form. Like its forerunners, it has a strong tang of the sea in it, and an element of mystery that keeps the reader's attention active. A house on a cliff ; the waves breaking along rocks ; the rush of a keen wind ; the smell of salty spray and rime - these the authoress brings to life very easily and naturally. Her style is reposeful. She does not strain for effect ; but lets the text move along fluently, telling its story in a spontaneous way. This applies both to her descriptions of scenery and of people, and to her dialogue. She spends no time on abstruse psychological analysis - that would only detract from the element of mystery, which is paramount - but her characters do stand out as clear-cut entities. The speeches of the two young friends, Ron and Vaughan, are in particular, full of a free naturalness of expression. The love interest does not enter the plot explicitly until a little time has elapsed. Anyone with some experience of this type of story, however, can see it developing at a little distance. The interweaving of the two motives of love and mystery has been skilfully carried out.' - 'Our New Serial', Sydney Morning Herald, 28 August 1930, p. 3.