The New York herald., 1922-03-05

try. He came here as a sort of
super-tramp seeking not only live
lihood, but an audience Needless to
say. he made no impression on us
whatsoever. We did not even become
aware of his presence, much less of
his purposes. He returned as he
came. q disappointed man, and his
disappointment proved so stimulat-
ing that 1t enabled him to get his
first book printed. 1t professed to
survey the intellectual life of mod
ern America, and what he said of US
was not pleasant. Years later he
admitted to change of opinion, and
we remained as bIithely ignorant OF
the change as of the original ver-
sion. We got off easy, however, for
that first volume was the only one
devoted TO our foibles and failings,
while it seems safe to say that about
SO per cent. of his subsequent pro-
duction deals scathingly with the
moral, spiritual and literary short
comings of his own countrymen.
Now Mr.. Hamsun is returning to
America-with a vengeance, one
might say. He does not come in per-
son. of course. but his books are his
deputies, and, 10, We cannot get
enough of this former super tramp
who has turned literary Nobel prize
winner. One after another of his
works is brought out with a rapidity
of succession that testifies favorably
10 the running speed of the Borzoi.
The republication of Hunger"
where the almost diabolical whimsi-
cality of the super tramp still reigns
followed by that monumental novel
The Growth of the Soil" which
seems to have clinched its authors
already pretty well established claim
TO the Nobel prize. Shallow Soil'
was taken over from another pub
fishing house and revived. Then ap-
peared Pan" and "Dreamers'' for
the first time in English. And now
the two companion novels. Under
the Autumn Star" and u Wanderer
Plays on Muted Strings" are being
brought out in a single volume under
the common name of Wanderers"
1t is interesting to note the origi-
nal publication dates of these seven
works: Hunger" 1890; Shallow
Soil" 1898; Pan" 1894; Dream
ers." 1904; Under the Autumn
STAR" 1906: "A Wanderer Plays on
Muted Strings" 1909, and THE
Growth of the Soil,' 1917. These
dates suggest that, with the appear
ance of the volume here named
Wanderers" we should have at our
disposal fairly representative cross
section of Mr.. Hamsun's total pro-
duction, enabling us to form conclu-
SionS of our own as to the basis of
his present vogue as well as to his
future chances of survival Such is
hardly the case, however. Through
circumstances over which the Amer
lean publisher had no control the
list of volumes so far published in
English is equally unrepresentative
on account of what it includes and
what it leaves out.
In spite of their undeniable charm
and their psychological interest. to
lovers OF Mr.. Hamsun's art, Dream
ers" and Under the Autumn Star
are far too slight TO be representa-
tive of that art at its highest and
best. The case of shallow Soif' is
still worse. 1t may in some respects
be held one of the few miscarriages
of which its author has been guilty
during his long and notable career.
On the other hand, the list given
above presents certain gaps that
must be filled before it will be pos
sible for the English speaking pub
lie to understand the reverence be-
slowed on Mr.. Hamsun's art, not
only in his own country. but all over
Europe.
First of all, none of his six plays
is yet available in English. He him
self disparages both the stage and
his own efforts for 1t. declaring bra
zeniy that the latter were solely
caused by bread and butter consider
stions. Paradoxes Of this kind are
the privilege of genius and need not
be taken too seriously. Particularly