Evening star., 1938-11-20

WITH MALICE TOWARD
| SOME. Halsey. Simon and
| Schuster.
ALONE. Byrd. Putnam.
SUCH SWEET COMPULSION.
Farrar. Greystonc.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Van
| Doren. Viking.
THE WORLD WAS MY GAR
DEN. Fairchild. Scribner.
in the quoted words Of contemporary
writer's, settled everything about
her marriage herself, and without
consulting Melbourne the Prime
Minister) at all on the subject, not
even communicating to him her
intentions" And it is enlightening
to be reminded, too, that, while
Prince Albert in time became an
object of adulation to his wife's
subjects. he was not at all popular
when she married him. The London
Times was particularly eloquent
against him and on the very we'd
ding day published q long article
criticizing him and the tradition Of
his family. How quickly is history
forgotten! Mr.. Mackenzie does good
service in this bringing it out Of the
dust of romance which has gradually
covered its harsh outlines.
Similarly, in answering the charges
that King Edward had associated
himself with a corrupt and pleasure
seeking group to the exclusion Of his
more serious subjects, Mr.. Mackenzie
calls upon the record of Victoria's s
reign, pointing out that precisely
that same accusation was made
against her in the early days of her
queenship, and noting that her
fondness for dancing was then
thought reprehensible. She carried
her love of amusement to such de-
gree as to perform country dances
with her cousin at 3 o'clock in the
morning, he reminds us, and in
quires if this is worse or better than
King Edwards liking the tango.
One does not need to 60 beyond
Victoria's own written words, of
course, to learn that she liked good
whisky and drank it; however 1t has
not been argued that the taste rem
dered her unit for her royal duties.
Mr.. Mackenzie speaks for himself
concerning the friends Of the King;
he has met . number of them, he
states, and has found them entirely
acceptable.
His admiration for the Duke of
Windsor, throughout his career as
Prince of Wales and as King, is
clearly evident. 1t lacks that full
some expression which, unfcrtu-
nately, has disf1gured the tributes
paid the present King: it is plain
generous emotion, based on the be-
lief that Edward had demonstrated
that he had the qualities of a more
than ordinarily good monarch, that
he was forceful in action and demo-
cratic in heart. And it is in pre-
cisely these characteristics that he
sees the former Kings doom. He
was feared for his popularity and his
possible democratic conduct. The
growth Of kingly authority which
might have followed his use Of that
popularity was thought to be a
threat to the ministers. And so, in
a time of emergency, the ministers
failed him. Or, to put it as Mr..
Mackenzie does, the Prime Minister
failed him. For he places the blame
on Mr.. Baldwin, and in very big let
ters, too.
AS he sees it, Mr.. Baldwin did little
or nothing to stem the hysteria
which gradually grew up about the
former Kings friendship with Mrs.
Simpson and which was famed by
the utterances of the clergy. The
loyalty which minister owes his
sovereign, and the duty which he
has to promote the welfare Of the
sovereign's rule, collapsed in Mr..
Baldwin, says this book, before the
minister's fear of becoming identi-
fed with an unpopular cause. To
the charge of fear there is also
added that of incompetence. Mr..
Baldwin was scared, and also mud
died. Or so says Mr.. Mackenzie.
1t is, as said, brave and knightly
book. It is written in q very passion
for justice, as the author sees justice
to have been withheld. Those whom
it attacks may, of course, answer
it as they see At. But to detached
reader it would seem that the an
swering could not be easy. It is
the work of scholar and historian
as well as of champion. Mr.. Mac
kenzie indeed was lord rector Of
Edinburgh University, in which posi-
ton, be it noted, he succeeded Mr..
Baldwin. In gray and dishearten-
ing time of the world, how well does
such a piece of courage show! That
is the. reviewers estimate OF the
work.
Books have once more piled up to
terrifying heights on the reviewers
shelves, and so, once again, in the
interest of no more profitable .
pursuit than simply Keeping
Abreast, she is compelled to race
through q random selection, giving
TO each work no more than the pro-
verbal lick and promise; for alas,
these writer's think not at all Of
critics as they write, and no human
being can keep pace with them and
do them all perfect justice. That It
should be so! But it is so-and q
hasty resume is the only solution
which suggests itself as the answer.
There are then, among the novels
staring reproachfully down on the
reviewers harrassed head the fol-
lowing.
There is work by Angela Thir-
kell. It is called "Pomffet Towers"
and is published by Alfred Knopf.
Mrs. Thirkeu will be remembred by
readers-or at any rate should be-
as the author Of August Folly" and
Summer Hall" She has light
touch which sometimes, though not
often, runs into childishness, but in
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