Evening star., 1939-12-31

BUSINESS of it justifies double rating.
In the field of "names"-that is,
in the work of men and women
whose reputation is deemed by their
publishers sufficient excuse for their
production of meretriscious work
we have the following, offered
readers as a kind of warning.
| TO STEP ASIDE, by Noel Coward
insignificant collection of short
stories, devoid of accomplishment of
any important kind.
| AUTOBIOGRAPHY, by A. A.
Milne-For Milne fans exclusively
Anybody else will get sick.
ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG
/ MAN, by John Dos Passos.-Dreary,
routine biographical novel OF youth
in search of the ideal of social JUS
tice. The complete stereotype-even
to having the hero stop Spanish
Fascist bullet
ROYAL HIGHNESS, by Thomas
Mann-An old pre-War novel
Mann name. Good writing, as you
would expect, but very slight and
| tepid as to content.
KITTY FOYLE, by Christopher
Morley coyness about a
woman's intimate life. Offensive in
its obvious effort to pass old goods
over the counter with a bright, new
smile.
LIVE AND KICKING NED, by
John Masefeld.-The poet-laureate
gives us a harmless little adventure
tale with, in spots, some satire on
the Chamberlain regime. Not biting
enough for the adult, however, and
not consistent enough for the child.
Pretty Writing.
HARVEST. by Jean Giono-The
apostle of paganism, introduced with
such fanfare a couple of years ago,
produces here perfectly routine
little love story of man and a
woman who, by their mutual affec-
ton. regenerate a countryside.
Pretty writing, but hardly the work
of the great master of whom we
have heard SO great plenty.
MR.. EMMANUEL, by Louis Gold
ing-The mellow sage of Magnolia
Street" here undertakes to befriend
a little German child and is tortured
by the Nazis for his trouble. A neat
little tale, obviously growing out of
political expediency.
BEWARE OF PITY, by Stefan
Zweig-A novel which is an OBJ
vious tour de force, made-to-order
thing about the folly of letting pity
sway your inclinations 1t is set in
pre-World War Vienna and treats
of the dilemma of young aristocrat
who becomes involved, with disas-
trous results, with crippled girl
for whom he does not really care
Seems, somehow very theoretical.
QUARTET, by Emil Ludwig g-The
portentous artist-biographer gives
us here sometimes amusing novel
Theme: Two married couples change
partners and back again, remaining
friends. Objection: Herr Ludwig Is
rather optimistic about the amount
of breakage which might result.
SEA TOWER, by Hugh Walpole.-
Oll 11uSll 10 Ill d OltllCl dUOuI pal :.
ents-in-law again. In Portrait OF
Man With Red Hair" he gave us
description of the horrors which
await the fair young bride at the
hands of her papa-in-laW. Here he
repeats the idea, but the villain is
the bridegroom's mamma. The usual
Walpole business.
EGYPTIAN INTERLUDE, by
Jolan Foldes.-The winner of the
Affiliations Novel Prize follows her
success with the usual pot-boiler.
More about refugees, this time Hun
garians in Egypt. Pointless, form
less, but touched occasionally with a
smart, satiric hand.
THE BRANDONS, by Angela
Thirkell-If Mrs. Thirkell becomes
any more tepid a new kind of lit
erary thermometer will have to be
devised to detect her presence. The
usual stuff about parsons at tea.
REJECTED GUEST, by Richard
Aldington.-One of the current young
generation of the disillusioned writes
very dire stuff about the plight of
poor but gifted young men in this
modern world. 1t is bright, but lacks
genuine vitality.