Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08
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ELLEN TERRYS MEMOIRS. With a preface,
notes and additional biographical chapters
by Edith Craig and Christopher st. john
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
THERE have been many Terry books of late,
! one or two more concerned with George
Bernard Shaw than with Ellen Terry. The first
photographed work of the famous actress,
THE Story of My Life" was published 20 years
before her death; the story has now been COM
pleted under the direction of her daughtc-,
Edith Craig. Although primarily child Of the
stage, Ellen Terry was also most interesting
woman as this book and the Strawberry cor
respondence show. During her stage career she
found time for many other interests and many
friends, and after her retirement she eagerly
enjoyed travel writing and philanthropy.
Christopher st. John says: ELLEN Terry did
not retire from the theater. The theater re-
tired from her. Perhaps this was the penalty
of her inhdelties to it in the past" In 1919
she played the part of the nurse in Romeo
and Juliet" the last of her Shakespearean
parts and in it her genius famed up for the
last time" When she married again. at the
age of SO. she said that it was her "own affair"
but her present biographer suggests that it was
ito certain extent the affair also of the ma
ton to which she was "a great religion and OF
her children, both some years older than hoE
third husband" very readable, intimate
biography.
THE FORTRESS. BY Hugh Walpole New
York: Doubleday, Doran & Co, Inc.
THIS is the third volume of the chronicles
! of the Herries family of Cumberland
Rogue Herries" began with Francis Herries,
called the Rogue" for many good reasons, who
was born in 1900; Judith Paris carried ON the
story from the death of the Rogue the night
when his daughter Judith was born, until
Judith had reached middle age. THE Fortress
ends with Judith's Tooth birthday celebration
The fourth and last volume of the series, to De
called "Vanessa," will be published in the Au-
tumn. Judith, who combines the love of power
common to most of the Herrieses with Wild,
strain inherited from her gypsy mother, Mira
bell Starr, dominates The Fortress" as she did
Judith Paris" In spite Of some episodes In
her past, she has come to be recognized both
in Cumberland and in London as the head OF
the clan. Her Legitimate son, Adam, like his
mother in many ways yields to her always In
strength of character. He does succeed In
making his break for freedom when he leaves
the home at Uldale, ruled by his mother, ana
goes to London but fate brings him back
again.
Next to Judith the two persons who divide
our interest in 1.-The Fortress" are Adam Paris
and John Herries, of Judith's nephew
Francis. In John the fear, not quite coward'ce,
which appears in some Of the Herries makes
for tragedy. He is an appealing character. as
he recognizes his own weakness and struggles
against it. At the end, his son, Benjamin, who
worries all the family because of his lawless-
ness, is entering manhood with the prospect OF
being quite different from his father-leSS fine
perhaps, but better able to meet the world. Il
do like to fight" he says. 81 think it's stupid
to do things just because other people do them
He is to be one of the chief persons in Van
essa." The others will be Vanessa daughter OF
Adam, and Ellis, son of the old age of Will
Herries. who is a grandson of the Rogue Both
Benjamin and Ellis love Vanessa, so something
in the nature of conflict will happen. The
chronicle style of Hugh Walpole employed IN
the earlier novels is continued in 1.-The Fortress"
and the atmosphere of the English lake region
if not quite as vivid as in Rogue Herries" is
still capable of stirring memory and magma
ton