Evening star., 1933-01-31
NEW BOOKS
' / iAT RANDOM
M. C..

Authorized Translation from the
Danish by Edwin Bjorkman. New
York: Liveright, Inc.
So few novels depicting modern life
in the Scandinavian countries have
been circulated on this continent that
"Susanne." the story Of beautiful
Danish girl, comes virtually as an in
PRODUCTION to American readers Of the
contemporary fiction of Denmark. BY
comparison It serves as a reminder Of
the vast difference between the pace at
which life moves forward on this side
and on the other side Of the Atlantic.
For the story of Susanne Il not SO
much unlike that which might be pic
tured as happening in this country 20
years or 50 ago, and maybe the Susannes
of this generation in America suffer .
bit for the comparison.
Susanne of Stenvig. however, Is far
removed from the generation Of the
sweet girl graduate. She treads stead
lily through the pages as young woman
Of high merit, plunging blindly into sit
uations of humility and pain, but
through sheer strength Of character
and a firm belief in the kindness of
most humans, bearing her woes without
thought Of revenge until happiness
triumphs finally over despair.
The daughter Of baker. Susannes
social status in the little Danish town
IS that which is allotted to the work.
ing class. Those who have wealth do
the commanding, and those who labor
do the serving. So Susanne served.
She handed out bread to the customers
Of her fathers bakeshop and she kept
his books. Also she did her share
and perhaps considerably more-of the
scullery work at home. Running away
when an accumulation Of abuse and
degrading incidents reached an unbear-
able climax, she became q household
servant in another city. But through
out experiences which might easily
lead to disaster she remains steadfast
and true to her convictions.
There is nothing extraordinary in
plot, for the author marries his heroine
to the worthless son Of wealthy ship
owner, taking her into world she
knows nothing about and leading the
pair OF them through a shiftless and
hopeless existence until clouds obscure
the brightness and storm quenches the
ardent warmth of love before the rain
bow reappears, to renew its promise OF
eternal happiness. But the characters
with which Mr.. Buchholtz has peopled
his book are SO human and bel1evable
and interesting that each one OF them
is we'll worth knowing.
First there Is Susanne's own family
q father who adores her and q mother
who borders on hating her; an incon-
sequent sister and brother, Hjalmar
whose steadfaStness and sympathetic
understanding makes him the most be-
loved in the entire assortment; Sande.
Riis, a commanding and compelling
figure, father of the blind Hakon, pro-
prietor of famous hotel and next-door
neiRhbor to Susanne'S family; Magnus
Hellenberg wealthy shipowner. dynamic
hard boiled, destroying by his own acts
the affection which he Graves from his
children, but for all that a spoiled child
in the hands of q wife he worshjps
Otto. husband Of Susanne. and his sis
ter, Elm. an adorable, fairy-like indi-
vidual, who marries Hakon and finds
supreme happiness in poverty and dis
comfort; Jutta Herfurth, half witch and
half shrew. and her husband, in whose
house Susanne worked as servant girl
during two. years of her wanderings;
and there are others equally as inter-
esting, but these are enough for be-
ginning.
In these days Of high speed and rapid
change on this side of the big pond, 1t
Is more than refreshing to read OF peo-
pie who for generations have remained
close to the source Of their ir-ng. whose
trades and professions have descended
from father to son as far back as time
began. These delightful folks who have
been created so vividly by the pen OF
Mr.. Buchholtz bring sense OF relief
from the hurly-burly and hodge, -podge
which has resulted in the introduction
into American fiction and other arts OF
q crudeness for which there is no ex-
cuse and q bizarreness which Is re-
pugnant. True, the frankness OF the
European, both in speech and in action
sense of politeness, but fortunately that
frankness is far less blatant than the
particular brand of license which
passes for frankness in this country
The background and customs expounded
in the story of Susanne have a quality
Of freshness and charm that is differ
ent, and because it Is different its ap-
peal will be the stronger.
In the Inter-Scandanavian Novel
Contest this product by Johannes Buch-
holtz won the first prize for Denmark
If it is a dependable sample Of modern
Scandinavian fiction, there will be q
hearty wish In this country for more
Of it.
SEEING THE UNSEEN. BY Robert
DSraeli. With Photo-MicroGraphs
by the Author. New York: The
John Day Co.
One Of the most interesting and fasci-
mating 'odd occupations" volumes that
has come to hand In long time is this
profusely illustrated book Of things tc
be seen through a microscope. 1t is ar
introduction of the vision into the
mysteries of nature which are invisible
to the naked eye. And how mysteriou,
and beautiful and interesting are thu
revelations thus exposed! Here are pic.
lures taken through the microscope ol
insects, flies, ants, ladybugs, cocoons
spiders, plant cells and leaves. roots
pollen, starch. fungi. milk, hair anc
feathers, scales. dust. steel blades
crystals and many other things which
contain secret beauties and faults which
hold the interest more tenaciously thar
either crossword or jig-saw puzzles
And besides, there are so many thing!
to learn about the everyday contact.
with nature and physics. With eact
photograph there is accompanying tex
giving detailed description Of the sub.
ject and picture, with instructions q.
to how to go about finding and photo.
graphing subjects under a magnifyine
glass. The text answers all sorts o
questions, and the complete volume con.
tains enough entertainment to keep the
children as well as the grown-ups busy
for many hours.
YOUNG LAFAYETTE. BY Jeanettl
Eaton. With Illustrations by Davic
Hendrickson. Boston: Houghtor
Miff1in Co.
No more outstanding character II
American history has held the affec'
-tions and the admiration OF the peopl,
than the impulsive and liberty loving
young gallant Of France. Marquis
lafayette. Many stories have beer
written about him, and many biogra
phies, all of them containing the aver
age amount of the mixing of tradition
with fact, and all of them shedding
enuno pou 1iUht ~, tho fortunes ond ~,