The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-22
"A PAWN IN PAWN

"A PAWN IN PAWN By Hilda M. Sharp. c. F. Putnams s
 Sons. Publishers, New York.
 A wealthy writer adopts a little or phan so that he may have someone to whom he can leave his fortune. He brings her up with every luxury. but does not return the great affection she has for him. He neglects to make a will and she is left penniless when he is lost at sea.
 Thus begins "A Pawn in Pawn" and then the publication of her book of poems, the resulting charge of pla- giarism. the writer's miraculous reap pearance and a pretty love story com bine to make this a most unusually charming novel.
 FROM SERBIA TO JUGo-sLAvIA, By Gordon Gordon Smith, with a
 preface by Dr. Slavko Grouitch;
 twith a map). G. P. Putnams Sons
 Publishers, New York City.
 From Serbia to JugosSlavia," by Gordon Gordon Smith, is an authori- tative story of what has befallen Ser. bia since 1914, perhaps the most tragic chapter in all the story of the great war. The author, world-famed war correspondent and intimate friend of Serbia's King, tells the story dramat- ically and gives the first comprehen- sive eyewitness account of the great Serbian retreat.
 PIERRE AND JOSEPH"
 By Rene Bazin. Harper Brothers, Pub
 fishers. New York City.
 Rene Bazin holds most distin- guished place among the French novel; ists of today. Pierre and Joseph" which has had the distinction of ap- np al ;v ;x vue des Deaux Mondes," reveals Bazin in his full strength as a delineator of character and of stirring events. The spirit of France triumphant emerges form his tale of the two Alsatian brothers who faced each other on op- posite sides at the call to arms A book for every lover of France and her peo- pie.
 POOR RELATIONS
 By Compton Mackenzie. Harper Broth-
 erss-Publishers, New York City.
 In recent article on Compton Macken- zie in the New York Tribune, F1eta Campbell Springer wrote: 'It was in- evitable that the man who gave us eight years ago so complete and beautiful tragedy as Carnivai. should give us now in his latest novel. Poor Relations, book of laughter a comedy complete"
 In the last seven words Mrs Springer has summed up Mir. Mackenzie's novel, summed it up so well tha. one need say very little more; We. the details cry aloud to be called to the attention of all read CTS who like both good novels and good fun, and St one must ampify.
 Poor Relations is the story of John Touchwood, an English playwright of ability but not genius. who, after in vasion of these shores, returns to Eng land with barrel of money and the sort of reputation which successful play wrights achieve. His family is not un- aware of either his money or his reputa. tion. And none of his people are too sue cessful or well-to-do So it falls but that when John reaches his country place he finds all of them gathered te welcome him-each determined to outdo the other. It is here that a new Compton Mackenzie, merges-a novelist who is not afraid to be bit fantastic, and who succeeds in creating coherent and beautiful farce out of the incidents which arise naturally from the people he presents. The more important among the poor relations are: An elder sister. the widow of an explorer. who has demon child given to. botanizing all over the place; younger brothe- who believes that the world owes him a living; an elder brother, firm in the same belief. who lives on the intermittent earnings of his actress wife; their two children-de- lightful brats, but too full of an inherited histrionic urge to be weli-behaved; and chiefest of all. Laurence. Johns ciergy- man brother-in-law. ..suave and heavy like a corn-flour shape" who eventually gives up his living to compete with John in the field of the playwright, c'Thomas. a Play in Four Acts Act First Scene First: The Shore of the Sea of Galilee. Enter from the left the Virgin Mary"
 J
 At first everybody is on his good be- l nephew and nieces with their 1, palms out and with their mouths open for such largess of toys or lollipops as 1 may fall from the heaven of Johns their elders. suavely in- i John. who. likes to strut {, and patronize who is incurably roman ! tic and innocently gullible, finds it all f very nattering and decides that his poor |! relations are not so bad. after a,.; -nat 1, blood is thicker than water. But blood has way of being much. much thicker, and before the Christmas festivities are over. John has had enough. He flees to ! London. But even at his town house. in the sacred library with it's cavorting