New-York tribune., 1922-06-04


THE THRESHOLD or QUIET. Ry psniei
Corcsry stokss 1919
the HOUNDS OF BASBA BY Daniel
corkery. Hushsch. iss.
ANlEL CORKERY Is one Of
several distinguished Irish
writers whose work has been
almost completely ignored in
this country. Although a Munster
Twilight" and "The Threshold Of
Quiet were both published in New
York as well a. in Dublin. his latest
work, "The Hounds of Bsnba,' is being
discussed as II the author were a new
eo~er.
While rejoice ths+, after two years,
this book should a. last have found
4 publisher IN America do 80 largely
in the hope that hearing nay thert by
be secured for his work as whole. a
Munster Twilight" is a work belonging
20 the same class as Psdraic Colap' 5
wild Earth and synge's Riders to
tire Sea- He knows his Cork and
Kerry as synge knew Wicklow ard the
Arran Islands. and coum the Midlsnds,
ard he describes the people with the
same harsh humor that gives It's
SAVIOR 70 the writing of the dramstist.
"The Lady Of the CLASSY Palace and
"Vtrity," for example. treat Of death
IN the manner which was denounced as
brutality" in Synre, but which is in
reality manifestation against the
lschrymose, conventional paihos Of the
pleasant playwrights and story
teilers. The Wake" also may be COM
mended 70 those who desire realities
rather than the iocosities Of Samuel
Lover and the Diekensian variations
upon desth-bsd themes, which are com
monty accepted as the only alternatives.
CoYkcry can evoke the grim humoT, as
we'll a. the rsthos, Of this haekneyed
situation by the simple process Of tell
ing the truth.
Ills most conventional story Though
SA admittedly In tho "nev" Irish con-
vention) is the first in The book, The
Flowing OF Leaca-na-Naomh." although
the press, as usual. singled il out for
extravagent praise. doubtless because
II is so very Celtic" The Return"
is as grotesque and weird as anything
in Poe. but. At the same time, It is
filed with sense Of Irish humanity.
Not since "The Land Of Padraic
Colum has the relation Of the peasant
20 the soil been so finely expressed in
prose as in that story OF almost mar
tieulate emotion. Joy" which tells Of
the return 10 a rich farm OF an old
man who had been forced of the piece
Of poor land which he loved and driven
into the city. The Spanceled' is an
other notable chapter. which reminds
one Of Synge in its challenging tragedy
OF love which binds. or spance,s.
man and a woman more irksomely be
cause of the absence Of legal bonds.
In 1920 his second volume Of short
stories appeared. under the title OF
"The Hounds OF Banba." vivid, imagi-
native studies of the Ireland Of Sinn
Fein. whose political interest naturally
ensured their success Political bias
though it may turn some readers away,
IA not by any means necessary 20
proper appreciation of the artistic
power Of the book. Daniel Corkery
tss written the epic or resurgent and
exalted nationslism. and his pictures
of whole people in revolt are ad-
rnirable in the skill with which sin
Gle theme is developed without ever
becoming forced or monotonous
The conditions portrayed are those
which we're outlined day by day in the
rswsraper reports Of the Irish war
hut here the outlines are filled in with
the living matter Of tradition, des-
rerate devotion and heroic pride
Among a people ahsme with the
rassion of nationality, harried get un-
difmaved. the author has found these
stories Of suffering and defeat but
never Of despair. The rattle OF ma
chino guns and srmored cars, the
trsmp Of men drilling in the darkness
the bitter memories OF insurreetioh
handed down from one generation 10
smother run through this book. giving
II the value Of a historical document
which Is. at the same time literature.
Here is the conflict Of two races ana
two civilizations, not in terms OF
politics. but in terms Of humanity
THE place of Daniel cOrkeTy IN An
Il glo-Irish literature is assured
hswever. not By his short stories but
~ The novel which he published IN
1917. The Threshold Of Quiet MS
work wss written before a Munster