Evening star., 1921-10-30

command of the Royal Italian
army. Translated by Mary Prich-
:. ard-Agnetti. London: Holder &
Stoughton.
TH1s record. by virtue of its
direction and scope and cir
cumstance, serves to dem
onstrate that In any COM
plete history of the great war the
battle of the Piave will stand among
events of prime Importance. De-
Ssnsive in plan, the battle Of the
Piave changed. with incredible swift
ness, to fierce offensive. 1t in
f1icted tremendous losses upon the
stro-Hungarian army, disorganiz-
ing 1t. disabling it to such degree
that it's part in the last great drive
of the central forces fell to nothing.
the final failure of the Germans. to
the final triumph of the allies. The
last chapter of the record in hand
Is devoted to the details Of the. great
battle itself. a study for the military
man. The preceding chapters lead
up to this momentous event. Two
of them present the relative strength
and placement of the opposing armies.
The first chapter deals with the "re-
tempering" of the Italian army after
a disastrous campaign and in view
of the crucial objective so close at
hand. This is an inspiring chapter.
for, in this ''retemperins. head and
heart. high intelligence and great
army is put into new combinations.
fieXibly and easily, to meet a new
situation. All of its separate units
are welded into single co-opera-
tive body, animated by one spirit,
uplifted by common resolve.
wonderful spirit is in evidence here.
To objectify the battle itself ten
battle plans go with the text. show
ing, step by step. the progress from
defensive to offensive and victory.
This report is out of the common
run of documents of it's kind. 1t
glowS with fervor and moves forward
in an eloquent ardor that in no way
detracts from the authority and ex-
actitude of the official character of
the record. A great story for the
civilian. A documentary account for
the professional.
PRIVILEGE. BY Michael Sadleir.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
In a novel whose all-around excel
lence of workmanship commands the
highest respect, Michael Sadlefr por-
trays the breaking up of that tradi-
tion which, for centuries, has formed
the thought and shaped the actions
of the English privileged class. This
theme the author embodieS in the dis
integration of the house of Whern.
The story opens, gloomily and fore
bodinFly. with the burial of Black
Whern. Lord Whern. 1t proceeds by
way of the reactions of Black
Whern's children to the new and vital
currents of thought that are flooding
England. and the world in the pres
ent. There are both reactionaries
and rebels in this stronghold of caste
and privilege. Indeed. within the
single family the author defines the
transition that is now going on to
the remaking of England. Mr.. Sad
ever. to make text out of Whern.
Instead. he constructs an intensely
interesting story out of the affairs
of this house. creating for it an at
than of decay. an atmosphere of
somber dignity and beauty. 1t is for
the reader to spread the meaning
of this tale. A part of ones pleasure
here is in the fastidious artistry of
the author. A slight share of his
Ia capable of a thorough enjoyment
of Michael Sadleir's noble art.
THE WASTED GENERATION. By
Owen Johnson, author of "Virtu-
Gus Wives" etc. Boston: Little,
Brown & Co.
This is the story of David Little
dale of Littledale, Conn. An inti-
mate story. opening diary-fashion and
continuing throughout in this free
dom and fnformality of expression.
The outside drama moves forward.
interestingly, in the action and at
mosphere of war. The inside drama,
and this is the one to which the
author is most keenly alive, has to
do with the impressions and effects
of eXternals upon the heart and soul
of David Littledale himself. Mr..
Johnson goes into David and sits
down. so to speak. for a leisurely
observation of his different stages of
growth. He marks the milestones-l
one, two and three-set up in the
progress of David. out of boyhood
into youth and manhood. A thought
full study, informed and big-minded,
this. A critical examination. not only
of David himself, but through him, of
certain institutions surrounding and
directing him. However this criti-
ciSm does not set the story aside. AS
q matter of fact the story is the thing
here. Notwithstanding the implication
lying In the title of this novel. Read
ing, the title thins out to the con-
sistency of mere promise, but the
story moves forward in the thick
of it's own richness.
THE OTHER SUSAN. BY Jeanette
Lee, author of '"The Chinese Coat"
etc. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons.
There were two of her-two of Su-
san Claiborne. One was the wife of