New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
A Novel About Genius
BY Ben Ray Redman

THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS. BY
Richard BlaSer. George II. Doran Com
pany.
ww@ HIS is remarkable novel. II
n is remarkable for its char
E acters, for its story and for
~ the manner Of it's writing; so
since in every case it, is ad-
triple distinction which Is rarely met
with in firgt novels or, for that matter
in twentieth novels. - rs,
In Charles Petrie, Mr. BIsker suc-
ceeds in doing what do not know how
many authors, have attempted to dc
before him: he creates q character who
is 6 genius or who nearly enough ap-
proximates a genius for all practical
purposes. The genius as presented in
novels is almost always an incredible
creature; seldom can we share the
authors belief in the genuineness OF
his puppets gifts. Since he is so rare
in life, it is probably not strange that
he should occur seldom in books. The
author who would present him has nc
common type to study, he has no mil.
lion inspired Babbitt from, which to
make his synthesis; where shall hs
turn to find an unimpeachabIe genius
that he may observe his manners OF
speech and Of action, and what assur-
ance has he that posterity will not set
his model down as a fellow of mere
talent7
Obviously. he is hard put to it, sc
the novelist usually depends largely
for effect ON number of superb icial
eccentricities, which he assures his
readers are the marks Of genius; and
he then hints firmly and repeatedly al
his characters excessive brilliance and
the Notwithstanding quality of his
achievements, the while he gives us nc
actual evidence that his man is more
highly endowed intellectually than the
author announces, in portentous tones
that his genius has completed the
worlds supreme drama or the heaven
storming Opus X or the great Scandi-
navian novel, we shrug our shoulders
unconvincedly.
1t is too much like The horse race
that takes place just off stage, with
the actors waving handkerchiefs and
aiming binoculars in the general d.
rection of the wings: the author ges-
ticulates in full sight OF his readers,
but the genius remains elusiyely just
outside their range of vision. Charles
Petrie, however, ie a different affair:
he is real, we see him and we believe
in him.
He has, indeed, all the eccentrieities
that have been ascribed to less con-
vincing geniuses; but he deos not live
by virtue Of these eccentricities alone
They are merely the defensive gestures
OF an unusual man in contact with the
common experiences of life; under
meath them the author has created 9
personality, mind and the something
that is still called soul in certain cir
cles. And by minor miracle Mr.
Baker succeeds in conveying to his
readers g knowledge and an apprecia-
tion of these things. He does not
simply tell us that Petrie has bril-
liant lnind-he makes him talk, and
when he tells us that his mind pro.
duced exceptional works of art our
faith in the mans ability is SO well
grounded that we do not ever think OF
doubling his creators word.
1t is case of character completely
realized, rare thing in fiction. There
Is no inadequacy, no jarring detail, nc
disturbing incongruity: to borrow q
term from another art, there is no
"faking" Petrie functions
And because he functions, because he
is human being and an unusual one
his story seems important to the
reader and is emotionally moving.
When we meet Petrie he ia still