Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
IDA GILBERT MYERS.

IDA GILBERT MYERS.
QUEEN CLEOPATRA: A Novel. BY
Talbot Mundy, author of "The
Winds Of the World" etc. Indian
apoliS: The Bobbs Merrill Co. Ii.
A NEW Cleopatra steps out here.
~ Such is the first effect Of Tai
a bot Mundy's novel. The second
4 \ Is that Of surprising workman
ship. The two 60 together. One
can we'll believe that long preparatory
period went into the making Of this
communicating and study: Plutarch,
Shakespeare, accredited history, the
findings of modern investigators, pic
lures. the land itself. Then came the
pause for mind Saturation in Egypt and
; its meanings, and then the shaping OF
the drama, whose purpose is to revital-
iZe In more adequate form and In
truer meaning one who has become
almost q myth, certainly a legend of
architectural skill, coupled with an
artistry OF insight and sympathy, there
comes to us by way OF this novel
living woman. Set in her own sur
roundings Of time and place, Of politi-
cal ambitions and dynaStic strife within
the royal family itself, of menace from
the West, OF Caesar with his legions-
here is a new Cleopatra. This is an
| ineligible being. fashioned to endure
by virtue Of her high mentality, OF her
true historic stature. The old concep-
ton of the wanton, Of the Siren-and-
Gree combination, will not longer hold.
A politician and a statesman instead;
| INSCRIPTIONS. II you will, but never the
mere tool Of any mans personal vanity.
Use the man to meet her own dynastic
ambitions? Use Caesar? And then
Antony, and then another? Certainly
and probably. A game OF statecraft, in
| which both sides made use Of the means
at hand. On the one hand Egypt and
Cleopatra; on the other Caesar and the
Roman legions. Caesar, vain, as every
great man is, has to be. Cleopatra,
wise to the thinnest threat of that van
! ity, playing on each of them to secure
for her land that which only Caesar
at that time could grant. And around
the two this author has spread the gor-
geous pageant of the royal life OF Egypt.
Around the throne are priests. scholars
soothsayers, Oriental attendants, SOL
diers and their commanders, military
, allies, elegant young sophists and orna-
! mental philanderers. Military move
ments, sumptuous ceremonies Of politi-
cal content, moments of ease and gayety
all very royal, all very impressive
gather the two great personages of this
tale into a vivid drama which, ancient
history as it clearly is, yet moves be-
fore any reader with the immediacy of
the present. Counting the gains Of this
| story, of this amazingly fine story, one
seizes first OF all upon q Cleopatra
rescued from the futile and silly and
devastating role OF q mere courtesan,
assigned to her by the morals of a later
day, to that of an astute statesman who
hoy pfrry 1afnro 10 faI
herself When men do this, as two or
three have done, they are crowned and
laureled for the edification Of posterity.
But, you say. Cleopatra lost through her
own wickedness. Well, everybody loses
| sooner or later-becauSe the bird of
| time has but a little way to futter. and
the bird is on the wing" However, let
us get back to the undisputable fact
that Talbot Mundy has written strong
and finely artistic romance on theme
| that refuses to grow old.
&*&
THE CABAIsA. BY Thornton Wilder,
author Of 1.-THE Bridge of San Luis
Rey." Introduction by Herbert Cor
man. New York: The Modern liz
| brary.
THE popularity of THE Bridge OF
San Luis Rey" and the rescue work
| Of the Modern Library have together
served to make deSirabl- and available
this earlier novel by Thornton Wilder,
The Cabala." THE Bridge" made a
tremendous stir. The novel in hand is
one Of quality. Yet it will hardly rank
/ in the matter Of wide acceptance with
any number OF the fresh romances that
are swoopfng down in crowds and
swarms upon the public. 1t is too well
written. It does not specialize in the
! familiar glamours. 1t is not greatly in
terested in the poor behaviors of the
common run. One has to think while
he is reading-and who wants to think
Novels are made to prevent any such eff