New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-23
4 Cle0er analysis of an EUil
Type.

BELLA DONNA BY Robert F5ichens.
limo. pp. So. Philadelphia: The J. 3.
Ldppincott Company.
sfr. Kitchens attacks In bella Donna
q problem OF which We seem to have
heard before. but 20 which. with his
cleveTness. he gives q sufficiently novel
turn. When good and evil mate together
which shall triumph What is going 10
happen when. as IN this book, an honest
man deliberately gives his name 70
had woman, believing that he can set
her straight with herself and perhaps
with the world? This novelist addresses
himself 70 the question with some
thoughtful1ess. but with more Of that
purely literary professionalism which
drives FIRST and last at the telling OF a
story. At the end the reader is left
with bad lasts in his mouth, but
ne has 20 confess that he has been
uncommonly well diverted.
The woman who gives the book its title
10 a London beauty who first achieves
brilliant rank N society. and then. while
.tin IN her Juveniles. sacrifices it for the
pleasure of throwing her cap over the
windmill Her husband, & wealthy
brewer. divorces her in circumstances
which stamp her with something ike
frtanay. But she IS stin worthy Of her
Eliokname. Bella Donna. ana her subse-
1uent career. though decisiveiy wanting
tn responsibility, is prosperous enough
until the forbes dawn upon her and she
realizes that she must 10 something" TO
maintain her dubious sway. She begins
by consulting fashionable doctor, but
gets small comfort from him. He cannot
cure an illness OF the soul She has bet
ser luck with DR.. Meyer Isaaeson's
friend. Nigel Armine. al idealist, who is
prepared to see Ia her a woman who has
suffered quite as much as she mas sinned.
Their marriage early in the book is.
from the authors point Of view, fore
gone conclusion. bat Mr.. Kitchens pays
The usual penalty of the novelist who
may have great talent but lacks creative
genius. il IS essential TO his story. IS
story, that his heroine should hoodwink
her husband, SO he makes the latter a
creduIous fool AS a result there is no
real conflict Of wills between the two.
Bella Donuas struggle TO dominate her
GUN destiny is carried on with DR..
Essscson and with AIahmoud Baroudi,
TIE Oriental, whom she meets on her way
10 Egypt Immediately after her wedding.
Il is impossible 20 attach any impor-
tance 10 Arinines lofty plans for the re-
generation Of his wife. Such plans could
only have been made psyehologically in.
seresting by the investlture OF the hus-
rs H. -.-a--- A.
It is, Mr. Kitchens simply gives his cease"
away. But his melodramatie story re-
mains unharIned.
This seizes the readers attention at
the start and presently gives him posi-
tive excitement. Though he cannot take
seriously the moral issues involved, ne
Is intensely curious TO see how Mrs.
Arraine viii play cut her wicked game
she hiss scarcely finished her wedding
journey when she learns that the birth
NJ an heir to Lord HarWich. her hus-
bands Izinsman. deprives her Of the
chance OF returning to London with the
title and riches which might, perhaps.
rehabilitate her among the people who
have cast her out. and the hatred Of
Armine which this disappointment en-
Eenders serves to bring into play the
worst elements in her nature Baroudi
captures her Imagination and the book
thenceforth constitutes q minute analy-
sis Of her relations with the Egyptian.
IL is a sinister development through
which she passes, and IL is made alb
sorbing by the authors skin in the franz
ing Of dramatic situations. The nara
tive is, perhaps, too long drawn out, but
Mr.. Eichens manages to triumph over
his addition 20 detail. His substance is
better than his style. and the excess Of
dialogue in the book does not really let
down the tension. He holds US, too.
through his grasp upon character. Ar
mine may be lay figure. the PORTRAIT Of
lsaacson may be conventional and only
hslf successful. but Bella Donna is alive.
and baroudi is an even more convincing
study. This type Of Oriental craft and
power rs handled by sIr Hichens with
we came subtle feeling for the exotic
mat ne shows in his admirable desorin-
lions OF Egyptian scenes. Baroudi Is
'noeeo' all OF piece" and, though tle
eoup de theatre which marks the nres-
entanon OF him in the closing mart -
me story fairly reeks Of artifce he i
himself genuine, vitalized figure. The,
maze q strange and dreadful pajr tho
man and the woman, and their sto,-,-
attracts while it repels.