Evening star., 1938-05-22

HANDSOME ROAD. Bristow.
CroWell.
NOn-FictiOn.
THE EVOLUTION OF PHYSICS.
Einstein g. 1nfeld. Simon g.
Schuster.
| AMERICA GOES TO WAR.
Tansill. Little Brown.
CULTURE OF CITIES. Num-
ford. Harcourt Brace.
MAN AGAINST HIMSELF.
Manninger Harcourt Brace.
WOMAN ON HORSEBACK. Bar
rett Stokes.
FOLKLORE OF CAPITALISM.
! Arnold. Yale.
about it in a quite orthodox fashion.
too, telling US of Master Kung's par
entage, his early environment, his
schooling, his jobs, the gradual growth
of his fame and the ups and downs of
his personal fortunes. Amazing as it
may seem, he contrives to make a
living man out Of the being who for
most of us is no more than word
signifying mysterious wisdom.
He shows us young Kung as youth
of noble blood but poor, immensely
interested in the traditions which
governed the formalities of his peo-
pies life and making himself an au-
thority on the subject while he
earned his living as a clerk in the
granary of a wealthy neighbor. He
shows him to us later. deciding to
devote his whole time to study. And
then he shows us the mature re-
former, bent on cleaning up the dis
order and dishonesty of Chinese pub
lie life, spending his best years as
adviser and minister to dictators whom
he despised. hoping that his counsel
would effect some good for the state.
And in the place of the saint OF the
myth we see an immensely practical
man, wise in politics. puritanical IN
outlook. lazy in body, fond OF his
wine cup, well aware that he was
superior to his fellows but eager to
use his better endowments for his
fellows good-a genius in his day, In
short, and perfectly plausible.
Mr. Crow writes with great power
of holding the interest. His book. IN
dealing with the political intrigues OF
! the petty Chinese feudal lords, runs
into some complicated material, but it
contrives to be lucid throughout ana
is altogether entertaining. 1t seems to
the reviewer an extremely good biog-
raphy and is accordingly recon-
mended.
EARTH MEMORIES. BY Llewellyn
Powys. New York: w. w. Norton.
THIS is a book of essays. Llewellyn
Powys is that one of the famous
brothers who introduced himself to
America about a decade ago by the
polished and brilliant volume BLACK
Laughter" later followed by Skin for
Skin" He is the Powys who. from
early manhood. has had to fight for
life against tuberculosis. In Black
Laughter" he told of African scenes
beheld when he went to that continent
in search of health. In Skin Tor
Skin" he wrote more of his struggle
against disease He is a beautiful
stylist a sensitive thinker, and orig
inal. His present volume sums up his
20 years of experience as an invalid
and describes his moods toward ma
ture, his religion and the source Of
his strength.
So deeply personal is this revelation
that it is difficult to assess 1t. How
ever, one can say that Llewellyn Powys
presents himself as pagan mystic. Ill
or well. he finds life a joy and he
feels the source Of this exultation in
the earth and earth creatures. His
book is beautiful and should be had by
all essay lovers. 1t is collection OF
exceptional distinction.
PARTS UNKNOWN. BY Frances
Parkinson Keyes. New York: Ju-
liam Messner, Inc.
THIS is novel in Mrs. Keyes' some-
what familiar manner. That is to
saw its characters are largely in public
life, and her own experience in politi-
cal society is drawn on constantly.
What happens does not have any par
ticular significance, to be sure. but one
can be certain that the settings are ac-
curate and the costumes in good taste.
In Parts Unknown" the story con-
Germs marriage and the diplomatic
service about equally. The reader is
expected to care a great deal about
what happens to the union of Michael
and Daphne Trent, and the factors
which influence this partnership de-
rive largely from the State Depart
ment. its methods and manners. Will
Daphne win to happiness? Will Mi
chael gain an ambassadorship? And
If he does will Daphne find her
marriage On The Rocks? There Is
much anguish over these moving mat
ters. And, to give fillip of freshness
to the usual ladies magazine situation,
Mrs. Keyes also asks, Should the Pres
ident of the United States have third
term? Eventually she answers her
own questions. Daphne Is happy. Mi
chael Is successful. And the President,
bless your heart, gets a nice new third
term!
Mrs. Keyes usual large pubic snoulo
find fresh intellectual stimulus In this
throbbing masterpiece.
CROOKS IN CLOVER. BY Percy J.
Smith. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippin-
colt Co.
THE author Of this booA 3 ;;iiat al
= most mythical person with whom,
his legendary character not withstand
standing, every crime novel addict Is
well acquainted-the inspector from
Scotland Yard. Imperturbable fellows
these inspectors are in fiction. follow
ing their trade as of1cial nemeses with
placidity and exactitude. So much do
they conform to type, indeed. that the
reviewer has sometimes had dreadful
secret doubts as to whether they exist
ed at all or net outside the pages Of
the thrillers. They seemed a sort Of
literary convention. But now one
cnooks for himself Insnector PERCY j