The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-04
The Book World

4 ASILY one of the most important books Of
L 1885 and a must" addition 70 the libraries
Of all those Indianapolis persons who love good
books is Carl Van DOrens An Anthology OF
World Prose" (Reynal &, Hitchcock; $3.50
This tremendous Gt is, too; 1882 pages an
thology is ideal for this kind Of weather. An
thologies are perfect summer books because no
steady reading is required one may open an
anthology AT any point, at any time ana OBTAIN
load Of pleasure in few short pages
Mr.. Van Doren has approached tremendous
task in attempting to place between the covers
Of one book the prose classics Of the world. But
he has done it magnifcently and his book de-
serves to rank as a fitting companion piece with
his brothers contribution to hterature-Mark
Van Dozens Anthology of World Poetry
one Of the features of this impressive anthol-
ogy of prose is the fact that Mr.. Van Doren has
chosen not to fill his pages with few words
from this author, or page from that one. Each
selection is a substantial whole and the book be-
comes not a reference work Tor students, but
veritable readers treasure troye.
ID Angling from the Old and the New Testa-
IN ments The Arabian Nights" "Aesop's
Fables and cinderella" Mr.. Van Doren pilots
the lover Of literature through Doccacio, Ra
belais Cervantes, Grimm, Ha IS Andersen, Shell
ley Pater. Swift, Spinoza Plato, Shakespeare,
Dickens and more than a hundred other works
to modern writer's and their contributions.
Mr.. Van Doren's selections in the English and
American sections are beyond criticism Need
less to say there will be criticism because of his
selections among the writings of living Amer
leans but then there are people who go through
life with chip balanced precariously on a Shout
der constantly.
The anthology contains the work of some 200
writer's and it takes about 100000 words to pre-
sent their prose masterpieces.
It's worth every cent of the money. Do we
have to put five stars to tell you it's recon-
mcnded from the ground up?
WHILE we're talking about ace-high books,
w you ought to be reminded about Humphrey
Cobbs Paths Of Glory" viking Press: $3.50. 1t
was reviewed in this column few weeks ago and
praised to the skies. If you haven't read it yet,
by all means get your hands on a copy pronto.
The book stands very good chance Of going
down as the finest novel Of the year. 1t is I'M
doubtedly on par with "All Quiet on the West
err Front" and some may consider it even more
powerful.
Mr.. Cobb has woven into his story a ruthless
power that sways the reader with almost terri
flying emotion. Read it and you'll never forget it.
IF you would like to take pot luck" with
L Scotsman whose versatility is like a fresh
breeze during one of our hot July days, you are
hereby recommended to strangers Come Home
by Ronald Macdonald Douglas Macmillan;
50 500.
Some of Mr.. Douglas stories are not the best
in the world. but a lot of them are exceptionally
good and it is worth trying pot luck" for when
you strike good one it reads like a GEM
Mr.. Douglas displays an almost amazing YER
satility in his writings. In one story he is
poignantly sentimental, in another he disclOSes
rollcking humor, and in still another, definitely
realistic. The authors restraint is splendid.