Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-10
ANOTHER SLAVIC
NOVEL OF PASSION
AND PROBLEMS
Homo Sapiens" Is Calculated
to Puzzle Critics by It's
Unreal Reality
OTHER NEW NOVELS

AnEro.American critics are notoriousiy
unaple 10 teel and sympathize with Slavic
interpretations of life. we can soc whole
rows of them throwing up their hands
IN molly horror Mt Stanislaw Przbyszewski's
Homo Sapiens" Alfred Knonf. New
YORK; In general they cannot understand
such vivid pbrtrayas of reality. traredy.
sordidness, problems and sad passions.
they are far too used to romance. glitter.
happy marriage and conventional love.
Any truth is hard enough for them TO
bear, and when it is an IInplaasont truth
into the bargain they prefer to shut their
eyes and ears and silently taboo 1t as
gross.
Another shock TO the doEmatic littera.
teur Is the authors lack OF "stvle" He
merely has something to say. and he cares
little how he says it. His short, choppy
sentences are annoying, but his ideas
come out just the same. Always the sub.
stance is of more Importance than the
manner of presentation.
But granted we are willing TO forgive
him his impusve form, we look for a
pot purpose or beauty of superior tyne
In this case, as in all Slavic literature.
the plot Is nil beauty Is also lacking, uu.
less we believe that the desires of the
body are alone beautiful For, if the
purpose Is the honest revelation of n life.
we can certainly doubt whether the author
succeeds In his intention, and finally
whether that intention is accomplishing
anything more than getting bad taste
out of his own system and into airs. To
those unfamiliar with Slavic literature the
book may be astonishing, but to the sa-
want IL Is as many others, only more So"
IL savors too much of the pathological and
exciting to touch most Of our lives.
Yet it is undeniably interesting enough
to follow the hero, Eric FalS, through all
his erotic experiences, as he passes from
one lady to the next: to meet his asso-
ciates, and to hear them all discuss the
problems Of life. 1t is illuminating to see
deeply into the inner and vital passions
OF the young, and to meet the tragedies
which come into active lives All this the
author has revealed with unfailing clarity
and sincerity. But luckily, only the de-
generate. the perverted or the eroticaly
unbalanced find life so full of fostering
difficulties.
With the other critics let us say that
our Polish author carries his idea so far
that 1t loses it's value-that of reality.
And let us be deeply grateful that we may
call him unreal that as an ndividualist
he expresses his personal feelings, regard
less of their universal applicability. In
this he Is true to Slavic traditions for
frankness sincerity and intensity-no
matter how sad and how cyncal-are al
ways the contributions we may count on
from our Slavic men of letters And pos
terity would rather hear of the depths of
lives than of their shadows.
There is no diminuton in quality in
Basil Kings new novel. 1.-The Side of
the Angels" (Harpcr & Bros New York;.
The author of "The Inner Shrine" has not
repeated the epochal characters of that
striking novel, which fulfilled the promise
Of THE Giants Strength" but he has
the standard of the earlier
works. and that is high praise in COM
parison with the criterion. He gives
through his creations-they are more
than puppets, of Course-a keen analysis
kinds of love, the consuming, febrile flame
Of tumultuous and destructive passion, and
the quieter, enduring love of the deep
seated, sacrificing affections. Chorley and
Lois win their way to their hearts de-
sire of requited love at last There are
other men and other women; there are
and obstacles. Mr.. King
handles them-characters and situations
admirably. He analy2eS the psychology
Of Uranian love and the eroticism of
Venue Paudemos with spirituaIist in
sight.
A romance of Old Ireland is finely told !
n '"rhe Passionate Crime" by H. Temple |
rhurston. d. Appleton & Co. New York; |
The author of "The open Window" |
The City of Beautiful Nonsense" etc, |
las drawn charming picture of Old Ire
and, with its quaint superstitions and its |
Mystery its romance and tragedy. An |
hony Sorel and Anna Quartermaine, |
whose tragic love and its woeful ending |
s ever the theme of the stories of these |
simple country folk. The story of the |
rhine in the mountains holds the interest |
# the reader to the end.