Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-18
MORE TNOT7ESTTNG INTO THE ARlNAGEDDOl
SOME FICTION BY
FOREIGN NOVELfSTS
Couperus, Reyniont and Ry'
gier.NaIko,ostu for Aner-
ican Readers

Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont is the
most noted of contemporary Polish nov
elists, having taken the mantle dropped
by Sienkiewicz. He is virtually Ip-
known to readers Of English. but on
the score Of his first novel TO be trans.
lated, The Comedicnne." he Is force
to be reckoned with in fiction. No less
noted a writer of fiction than Rupert
Hughes says Of Reymont: "While we
are translating Spanish novels into
English the Spaniards are translating
Heymont into Spanish. Reymont rep.
rcsents the spirit of the new Poland.
both rs one of the idols of his nation
and as one Of its realistic portrayers."
Realism is his forte, as he proves in
his narrative of Polish girl. who, re.
senting her drab village environment
ana its lack of ideals, revolts against
the circumstances of her restricted life
and joins company of provincial play
ers-colloquially called in Poland SEQ
medians,' the term, however, not bein :
limited to interpreters Of comedy n.
with us. She Is strange. exotic young
person, feminist and nationalist. with
a sweeping faith in her slayic deris@a
ton and destiny and an abiding faith in
her own individuality. This Is most
closely observed study Of feminine
temperament set in story rich in nc
tion and personalities.
"KQbiety" Is another book by O
Polish novelist Of brilliancc and in
digcnous reputation, which has seepct
through the intelligenisa of Europe and
is filtcring over the Atlantic. The
author is Sofia Rygier- -Nalkowska, and
| like Rcymont's book. the story is one
Of teminine temperament against q
han nlyH Il &c L. s.I
consciousness of Poland.
The title, literally translated, mean,
Women" 1t, too, is penetrating IL
its searching Of psychology of woman
kind, its Interpretation Of Temperament
and its power OF projection Of situa
tions and characterizations. An emf
nent critic of Slavic literature. Field
man. declares of it that Marie Bash
kirtseff's 8 work. styled Europe's discov
cry of the feminine soul, becomes child
play" The heroine Is moody, in I
big sense and way, capricious In u fem
ininely charming and intriguing man
ner and ever and always rich in per
sonality. The writer is candid to tn
point of outspokenness-she has tn
punch" and the questing independents
Of the intellectual rebel. She rebel
against set forms and against conven
tional viewpoints. Her novel Is causing
much comment in Europe, and IL it /
widely read on this side doubtless tn
sensation will be duplicated.
! Louis Couperus. whose Smal
Souls" and other works have won dis
tiuct and rather distinguished followin
in the United States through the ad
mirable translations Of Alexander TEX
era de Mattos, is the author of 9TH
Inevitable novel of cosmopolitan
life in Rome and the French Riviera
The heroine Is young Dutch baroness
a divorcee. who eventually through fore
of interesting circumstances is force
to come back to her husband, after he
quest for enjoyment of her court -wo
freedom. The story has all the re
finement Of style which makes Couperu
so charming. all the insight into huma
motives under stress and strain tina
makes him so sound and realistic. ie
though he is n careful realist, he Is no
wanting in romance also. His blendin
of the two manners of fiction makes
novel of genuine artistic merit.
The same writer's ''The Tour re
yeals him again as the distinguished styl
list and more of the romanticist. 1t Is
story Of ancient Egypt, relating tn
trip of n sort of Cooks tourist part
through the Nile country in the reg
, of Tibcrius. 1t is all very. delightful
done and Mr.. de Mattos has maze
charming translation.
THE TOUR: BY Louis couperuS' New for'
THE 1Sdf fiSEfvfT&BLE. f.S'fifT by Louis Couperur
NsT TSrk BY PodS MaGamS MGnS SSSowsa GS Ne
THE coMEDlENNE By WI. Ml%dy:'"Pp si%' a.
naIn's sons.