Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26

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New York: Harper d Brothers.
T is coming to appear as if there is q
concert Of purpose among novenstS
writing Of England and English life.
As If this were the hour to gather into
some degree Of effective permanency
certain aspects of that life which are passing
definitely into the background Of the past, into
history. It is q commonplace, nowadays, TO
find the best of the British noveists deliberate
ly moving into the foreground that which Tor
merly served as mere setting TO the romanceS
of their making In other words, the older Eng
land becomes the real hero of the story. The
dominant character of the tale is English life
itself, standing deep-rooted in an immemor1al
past-yet with a shade Of question and duoley
in its fronting upon the future. To De sure,
upon the surface men and women come and
60, absorbed in one another of the hemen-
dous human preoccupations. These serve. in
part in make the story itself go, to make 1t
move forward compliantly to the wishes OF the
average reader. In larger part however, even
these are projected nluminantS and remind
ers of English tradition and outlook, OF custom
set deep in its soil, Of habits bred therefrom
for stability and endurance and an honorable
national life.
Galsworthy, Sheila- Kaye Smith, Vaughan.
Bennett, Wells and another and another OF the
considerable English writer's are engaged in per-
petuating passing era by way Of fiction
Among these is this new novel by Francis
Brett Young. A big, encompassing story, gath
skimping one of them. Gathering up primarily,
however an England dimming, slightly, before
the glare of the new world, Of new England
that is q shade rancously crowding to the front.
This immediate aspect of England-the raw
upon the ripe-becomes the real protagonist
here Of surprisingly fine story The soil, the
sea, the countryside, the youthful sports ana
pleasures, the lusty grip upon life generally the
orders Of society," with a scruplous attention TO
each Of these-aM come together to make Eng
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WISE ripe, rich. powerful, pattern for the
world-England
But story In order to qualify such must
be individual and human in both virtues and
errancies. And here Is the story, the top one,
carrying forward Jim Redlake-baby and boy
and youth and man-upon the tide of English
affairs that passed Jim on into the World War.
Not . war story in any sense That world
climax, in which Jim counted but one. Not
even the best part Of the story, that. Rather
does the true essence of the matter lie in the
slower years Of Jims youth, when he was grow
ing I'D after the rules and fashions OF the age
long life around him. Titled folks close to him,
including him often in the ritual Of their ex-
istence An honorable middle-cass family
around him. q professional family. insurng for
Jim the benefits Of English schooling and just
beneath-but most beloved by Jim-the lesser
folks who probably thanked God that they
were servitors I'm 30 grand land social
TODD of ceremony was the chief medium Of this
boys contact with the world Young love pro-
viies not only striking romance, but it pro-
jects also q beautiful and believable siren OF
detestable quality. There is so much to this
novel so much Of IL, that without overstate-
ment it may be said to deliver England over
into the hands Of the reader. smooth and
plausible effect, as q whole, rises out Of the
authors clear art of marshaling and arrang-
ing that which he sees so clearly and sees down
to his own depths. very rich book, whether
you count it as reading enjoyment or whether
you look upon IL as, in spirit, the history OF
period that is now passing into something dlf-
ferent, certainly into something deeply prob
lematical.
long, long novel Some tell us that now
adays there Is no place for the greatly extended
story They say that the tempo is all wrong,
hing not with the present, but with de-
parted leisure. think I've felt that way, too.
But not in respect to 1.-THE Redlakes," however.
For here Is a great novel-big from every angle
of conception and projection. EngroSsing
throughout In Its vital substance and in the
beauty Of its compan1onShip.
CERTAIN PEOPLE. BY Edith Wharton.
author Of 1.-The Age Of Innocence" etc. New
York: d. Appleton Co.
HALF dozen short stories by Edith Wharton.
IL Weird on the one hand. less other worldly
uncanny on the other, these tales sum to
body Of irOnic artistry for the entertainment Of
the reader. Their sardonic turn appears to issue
from deep sources Of knowledge concerning the
human. Inc 6TsAStky Ms VI course, part anu
parcel of Mrs. Wharton's Spartan training of
her powers to the most exacting demand Of art.
Every one Of these stories is padded and up
holstered I'm such richness, in such fitness, as
only an indefatigable student and workman
of most exclusive training could command. 1t
is joy to wander through the wealth, the sheer
wealth. provided here. Whether it is London
that makes the demand for its own peculiar
setting or an ancient classic pile on the Medi-
terranean coast, or o wide spread Of the Arabian
desert whether IL Is any other spot, you may
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