New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
Not His
Besf Book

A9(cR SOCh
The beauty of the closing scenes mstch..
fally the grandeur of the books beginninc
Yet novel the work is, together with
its predecessor, inferior to Ibanez's qa,li.r
books. 1t is great in its virtues and IN its
defects. 1t commences and closes ike
truly great work; there is power. crushing
force, tremendous sweep energizing descrip.
ton. Yet, agreeing from the very star,
that the cause in which it was written wa.
in itself high and noble, as a work Of Art
the book is distinctly, from the standpon,
OF plot and purpose, "roma3 d'occasionp
lake the characters. Freya is but an
added proof of the authors difficulty in the
handling Of women. She is not real
creature; she is a motion picture varapre
with all the attributes of that restless but
hteess species. Cinta is so much in the
background and SO readily forgotten by her
husband under the spell Of the German spy
that we, too, forget her. The "doctora"
companion of Freya is a pala caricature
Ulises himself, we'll drawn at the start
loses color and weight as the tale nro
crosses. in two secondary male characters
indeed does the author achieve genuine
life. Toni and Caragol, employees of Uhses.
really live; they are flesh and blood Great.
ures endowed by their literary creator with
the genuine existence that we readily ac
cept. There are other defects in this latest
OF Ibanez's works that lend it length and
detract from its effect There is. for ex-
ample, the wealth of oceanographical detail
with which the author has padded his pages
When THIS is skilfuily done by introducing
II poetically in the form of sea-Ioying
uncle's tales to his favorito nephew If j.
not only acceptable, but forms aa orcani,
part of the story, beautifs. ia itself and
necessary to complete understanding ~
that ulises Fe1INgut who is to spend bis
lie on the sea and at last find hi graz
beneath its waves But when page after
page teens with superauous historical is
tail that belongs in a treatise rather -taa in
novel, it becomes monotoaous. N'a.es
lhanez has a weakness for describing baal.
ings and houses this appefrsd III t.e .e-r
first Of his Nalencian novels. "Arfoz
Tartana,' and mars some Of the pages ef
Mare Nostrum"
Yet the book is undoubtedly powerful and
memorable This power is derived from the
epic treatment Of the sen ia .aa earig par.
Of the novel; in the deep d diseerrinsn, q
what the Mediterranean has meant TO civ
ilizat'on, to the men Of it's shores TO U.se,
i comes from the uncanny aliI.ty possessed
oy the author Of revealing fa eject o.
the inaninate upon the m4n 4te
Just as, for example. q r.4a Of Tsr.
genev's novels affords Us ar ave tionarg
glimpse into The deveionne.t of that
writer's Russia, as typifa d u as chief
male figures, so in somewhat d.Ferent de-
gree do lbdnez's men give us IA glimpse of
the struggle between old Spain and TIE new
lbanez's Spain is q land Of malana. bat not
the tomorrow with which we have ever
twitted his nation. His is NOT the t5-no--
row that seeks 20 postpone; lis is lie 70
morrow to which energetic. r tant spirits
look forward for a new and better order
If King Alfonso XIII has read with care
only the propagandistic novels of his i.
Mstrious subject, he has had an opportunity
Of learning the type OF man vith whom he
Will have to deal-with whom. indeed, Re
has already had to deal. These heroes are
red-blooded, vigorous determ ned; TO be
sure, they often fail at the end bur # there
are victories that spell failure. SO arc there
failures that spell victory. i may be that
this quality in Ibanez's heroes. as We. as
the problems which be attacks and the man
ner IN which he treats them. accounts Fl
!e'ge measure for his success .n Russia
Interesting comparisons might he made, too
between the manner and matter Of Js'A
London also popular in RUSSIA. and those
Of Blasco Ibanez. London drer largely
upon his personal experiences. .s.ng bis
works often with propaganda motive
Compare, for example. such ta.c as "Jols
Barleycorn' with Ibaaezs "I.a Boae.-a" Tie
Saloon). And If Ibaaez is acquainted W.,
Martin Eden he must appreciate the close
OF that novel, with its strongly character
izod man and its weak woman
once upon time. and il was no. so yerg
long ago, it was the fashion .n certain
quarters to regard Ibanez as mpos bic sai
utopian. The trend Of world epeafs has
greatly modified the meanings of some Q.
our words and has given u deeper nsigh;
into hitherto neglected aspects Of foresH
ard domestic life. Things have been hap
pening IN Spain lately that rcvea. lbaael
somewhat in the light Of q prophet or is
iNe.ely that ne is closer SO the people o. N's
nation and describes wat he sees rather
than draws ven of words before the si'-
uations that are unpleasant? Ultimately
those situations must be met. The Span
of tomorrow VIII be found % have moved /
more in the direction of lbanez than in that
Of his detractors
We have already seen that our author IS !
but hfty-two, energetic prolific. voluminocs
VIII he return to Valencia? Or has the
world war emboldcncd him to abandon his
native province for field vaster chan his
nation and embracing the world He hss
now larger audience than has been
voucshsafcd any Of his fellow uovelsts and 3
his future works viii be watched for by j
readers in every country. That is rare
privilege and imposes rare obligation
hoc ~, !,