Evening star., 1924-01-13
GEORGE GISSING: A Critical Study.
Ry Frank Swinnerton. author 0f "R.
L.. Stevenson; 4 Critical Study"
etc. New YOrki George ii. Doran

etc. New YOrki George ii. Doran
Company.
The majority of readers were able
to go along with Mr.. Swinnerton in
his critical study Of the work of
Robert Louis Stevenson. The general
acquaintance with Stevenson turned
that study into something like a re-
view. Here the case is different, for
George Gissing commands but a linn
tied number of readers. SO the aver
age man takes up this book like a
new lesson, learning from the critical
treatment of Mr.. SWinnerton the
quality not only of Gissing's work,
hut much of the quality of the man
himself. To those, however, who are
familiar with the writings of this
gifted man Mr. Swinnerton's clearly
competent analysis viii add both
fresh information and consistent in
depreciation. To very unusual de-
gree the writings of Gissing reject
the man him self--a highly eXcltable
ugotist, erratic one sided. intense.
who delivered himself bodily and
spiritually over into his work. For
this reason the biographical sketch
offered by this critic serves eXcep-
tlOnaIlN- is an eNpldndllOn anu lnbel :
probation of Gissing's outlook upon
the art of literature and of his
methods in projecting this art. One
is. besides, interested here In Gis-
sings passion for the work of Dickens
and the influence which he claims
that Dickens had over his own liter
AIRY product. One is pleased to have
the legend of Gissing's penury dis
solved In the light of substantial evil
Hence that only for very short time
was the eccentric man in actual want.
4 fugitive and elusive figure, who is
likely to prove ultimately to be more
interesting as puzzling and brilliant
personality than permanently con-
siderable as an enduring writer.
THE QUEEN PEDAUaUE. BY Ana
to1c France. Translated by Joseph
A. ". StritzkO. Introduction by
james Branch CabelI. New York !:
Boni & Liveright.
4 stirring adventure, which in eX-
ternals-as Mr.. Cabell reminds us
suggests the romantic inventions OF
Alexandra Dumas. Here are meet
lngS at old taverns, sociable drlnkinSs
and carouSings, swift angerS and
sudden attacks, the impetuouS sortie,
the hazard and eSCape-bewildering
occurrences in a constant crescendo
of dazzling effect. But whereas with
Dumas these constitute the do-all
ana De-dll OF Ine adventure, Win
Anatole France they hang, bright
tapestry on the wall, against which
shines out the figure of fAbbe Jerome
Cofgnard, IAN erudite and battered
figure - a figure of odd medleys."
that one remembers, not for his
crowded career Of "fsticuffs and es-
capades and broached wine TASKS,
but for his religious meditatIons.
wherein merry heart does. quite
actually, so all the way "Coignard
! take to be'-Cabell still talking
"a peculiarly rare type of man--the
type that is genuinely interested in
religion" Mr.. Cabell throws in
gratuitously here that there ''is no
female of this species" He (Coig-
nard) stands apart. He halves little
with the staid majority of us, who
sociably contract our sacred tenets
from our neighbors like a sort of
theological measles" His creed,
always bear in mind that a sound
intelligence rejects everything that
is contrary to reason, except in mat
ters of faith. where 1t is necessary
to believe blindly." Ones opinions
therefore, become of the greatest i'm