Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-03
Reviews of New Books
.rAe Lsvs stsry es Ai,stss Br~.tsa.- =

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srhe Lsve et~ry 81 Alis<te Druatsa."
nv Gilbert Frankau. New York
city. The Century Co.. aSa Fourth
avenue. ,t2)
Critics OF tho London publications
extended high rraise to Mr.. Frankau's
The Love story ~ Aliette Bvunton."
and a. q romance OF power and deep
interest Il deserves al that has been
sn,d. Hut In other respects II will he
looked upcn a. somewhat astounding.
ror u tustincs entire freedom OF
relations between man and woman,
and holds that this would bring no
evil or reproach upon them should
they yield TO tho natural impulses OF
hove. following the unconGcnial or un-
happy marriage OF either. without the
convenient Intervention OF divorce and
subsequent legal union. This. of course.
II shocking 10 the average human
mind, aud will he held as treason TO
the canons ~ coed society.
Hut II In a story of n great love.
d~iincatcd with splendid power and
vivid reality. without the sordid ac-
compa nimcrts of tho general run of
stories which play up the seamy side
~ social life. Aliette Prunton. married
TO a man who was unconsenial and
whom she did not love. WAS disguised
by his gross inndclitiss. which she
easily discovered. and thus slienated
completely from him. became hts wife
thereafter In name only. Then came
Ronald Ceyendish, and the instant
they met hove env~loped them In its
powerful grasp. Fate threw them to-
kethcr, and ~ was not long before there
came the natural avowal, the mutual
confession. The wife honestly inform
sd her husband OF the situation and
asked him for n divorce, which ne re-
fn..d even after she told him her
intention to eiope with the man whom
she loved. And they clopcd and de-
parted on honeymoon of happiness
pu, these lovers suffered for their
Violation of honest convention and
were socially ostracisod. The story of
how they lived. and how they waged
a contest to compel the unwilling de-
s,rted husband 20 sue for divorce
IN order that they might legally
marry, In mos, absorbing In interest
md dramatic at times In Its intensity
And it suocecdcd They compelled hin
a divorce his lawful but unlovins
fc, and then the lovers were married
barely In time TO establish tho legiu-
macy OF the child of their union.
While the author fairly pictures thu
suffering. tho brutal social ostracism
that inevitably attends affairs o
this kind. he justif,es the procedure
under such conditions ss surrounde'
thesc two persons For the sran'
passion" he says. Is tho sublime hu
man emotion. the indennsble complies
Of the soul" And it will not h
denied.
A. has been said. those who reals,
as we'll as those who indorse. the ar
gumcnt of this unusual story. VII
Yield 20 tho enchsntment 81 its rar'
power and dramatic intensity. its por
trayais of character and its ocea
rlonal thrilling incidents. The picture
portrsit ~ Mrs. Cavendish. mother q
Ronald and n leading light In Lon
don's literary circles. " most appeal
ing. At first shocked by her som
sd as a crime against society an'
the ln~, she can,s TO sympathiss Will
their great and pure love. and TO wea
her iire away in pursuing her pla'
for their happy release
In tho way OF thrilling incident. IN
country meet at which Alie,ts an
Ronald nrst made acquaintance, an
the chase after fox and hounds ths
follows, 1. a rsre bit " dcscriptiv
picturing. And tho story of the mur
Ser trial In Oid Bailey Court, in ~hic
Ronald defends ana acauits youn
woman charged With murder, sgain'
tho most vindictive efforts of IN
public prosecutor. who was Aliette
husband T. marVelously told; also.
IL true 10 the form and procedure {
court trials. sn element 20 vhic
many authors who introduce leg'
trials In their storie. sive little after
tlon.
Received Of the publishers.