New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04

;cated to Mr.. Hardy. "a sensitive dedica-
ton" this writer observes, will often re-
veal the soul of a book; and then declares
that between Mr.. Galsworthy's latest novel
and its attribution there exists something
of genuine spiritual accord" Life reveals
itself TO Mr.. Hardy as "a dumb, suffering
creature, driven by the spirit of Nemesis;
to Mr.. Galsworthy it shows 1.-The same
vexed and fearful face" Thus the "spir-
itual accord"-although Mr.. Waugh dis
tinguishes the two writers by emphasizing
Mr.. Galsworthy's supreme Humanitarian
ISM" HE is the humanitarian of modern
novelists; the fellow sufferer whose hand is
always extended in the darkness" Where
as Thomas Hardy, watching the slow I'M
ravelling of Fate, "smiles with bitter
smile at the unintelligible irony of it all,
John Galsworthy, watching the same re-
lentless drama, sees not the irony but tie
pity of it," There is something "subtly
feminine" about the latter's sympathy; and
vet at never declines into sentimentality."
For the book this is Mr.. Waugh's verdict:
Beyond will rank among the strongest
and most sincere of Mr.. Galsworthys books;
where its truth is not appreciated it can only
be through the dulness false sentimental
ity that is unable, or unwilling, to look facts
in the face"
GONE interesting discussion of Mr.. Gals
y worthys own ethical and human out
look on life has arisen in connection with
i4l.z g no
opinion of one English reviewer has just
been presented. 1t will perhaps be ilumi-
mating to add the opinion of 1.-THE Ma
tion," which speaks of Mr.. Galsworthy as
that more insidious influence, an eloquent
and honest pleader from false premises"
and which later has occasion to refer 10
"the slightly monotonous key" of his ere
! fined pessimism."
| A number Of American reviews were in
sistent upon the fact that the characters
/ in Beyond" are curiously flesh and blood
characters "The Philadelphia Public
Ledger" for instance, speaks of them as
undoubtedly existing" and "The New
/ York Times" finds something uncanny
about the way John Galsworthy evokes not
only life but the very soul of life" How
ever, this sense of supreme reality is not
1 felt by all the reviewers, as the following
( sentiment from "The New York Evening
Mail" will testify:
an place of drama We find meodramai in
place Of shrewd and Illuminating comment
we find false and conventions observation
in place of able character analysis We find an
almost tawdry record Of unconventional
traits There are here passages and situa-
tions which can be characterized only by the
word cheap"
Extremes swing back and forth; the pen
dulum of judgment maintains its measured
to and fro. And from the zigzag Of com
ment it is evident that Beyond must be
classed with those books over which read
ors are bound violently to disagree.
AS for its literary style" most of the
reviewers unite TO pronounce that adj
mirable. There is, however, at least one
exception in the person of Lawrence Gil
man, who, in 1.-THE North American Re
view" brushes aside the whole heap IF
style eulogy and signs:
"Mr. Galsworthy used to have shrewd
and vibrant sense of humor. 1t would not
formerly have been easy TO impeach him for
artless banalties, for economy OF thought,
for undistnguished writing"