The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1944-04-14
Library Noies


Ten short novels of Hitler's war
| against the moral code - by
Thomas Mann, Rebecca West,
Franz Werfel, John Erskine. Bru-
no Frank, Jules Romans. Andre
Maurois, Segrid Undset, Hen
dirk Willem Van Loon, Louis
Bromfield-edited by Armin L,
Robinson with a preface by Her
man Rausching- Simon and Schus-
ter, 1943.
When Hitler started out to con-
quer the world, he swore that he
would not only break every one
of the ten commandments, bat
/ wage relentless war against the
moral code they express. Since
that boast ten years ago, he and
his hordes have done all in their
power to try to obliterate the
/ decalogue from the earth. Hitler
has literally and symbolically
dragged in the dust and smeared
with blood of whole nations those
cardinal principles which have
guided the conscience of Jew and
Christian alike for thousands of
years.
Ten of the worlds famous writ
ers have banded together to
write a ten-fold denunciation of
the Nazi ghasfTiness. Each Of
them with one exception, has laid
the scene in Hitler'S Germany or
in one of the enslaved countries.
The excepfion-Thomas Mann
has illustrated the text Of the
first commandment by q dynamic
~retelling of the story OF Moses
handing down OF the law, with
the main dramatic incidents that
happened before and after that
great forward step in the history
Of the human race. But although
this magnificent short novel is
laid in Egypt and enroute to the
promised land, its present day inn
~plications and Significance is not
forgotten, and can be read be-
tween the lines.
The ten short novels selected to
illustrate Hitier's career of flout-
ing the moral sanctions are fic-
ticn, but they are true. Every
one of these incidents happened
in essence, and their fundamental
authenticity is vouchsafed for by
the seeping out of the occupied
countries via underground chan
nels. In the light Of these coldly
factual data the short novels coll
lected here seem to be incredible.
Indignation, moral indignation,
has provided the leaven that uni
ties the various contributions of
the ten authors. 1t has fired their
pens and has inspired them to
create a memorable series of liv-
ing portraits. First there is
Thomas Mann's Moses, that no
nonsense leader who managed the
most famous mass migration in
history. There are the sensitive
aesthetics of Rebecca Vests Dan
ish tale forsaking their gaiety
and self indulgence for a career
of defiance to meet Nazi invad-
ers. Franz Werfel's rabbi, in his
death agony, twists the swastika
into the form of a cross. John
Erskine reintefpfets the meaning
of Remember the Sabbath Day
TO keep it holy" giving it a new
meaning for all men. Bruno
Franks tragic heroine symbolizes
the hopelessness OF the Nazi
ideal even at its most seemingly
fruitful. Jules Romans story
emphasizes the iRsidiousness OF
being merely lukewarm against
Nazism and how, in this way,
even men of good will can be
separated from their better ma
ture.
Andre Maurois has given the
Seventh Commandment an ironic
twist; it reads as a message to all
appeasers and timeservers. Sig
red Undset's portrait of her old
Norwegian heroine has a Rem
brandtesque grandeur and dig
nifty; her conduct makes that of
the invaders ridiculous and con-
temptible. Hendrix Willem Van
Loon portrays a young Nazi
s%coundrel, contrasting him with
his pious Dutch foster father. In
Louis Bromfield's fable retribu-
ton comes from an unexpected
quarter.
Armin l.. Robinson, the Aus
trian publisher, asked the ten
authors to write their pieces for
the crusade against Hitler ideal
egy. IT was in a conversation
with Herman Rausching, who has
contributed a stirring foreword,
that Mr.. Robinson first conceived
the basic idea that grew into this
book; that H~itlerism IS in the
final analysis, q war against the
moral code crystallized in the Ten
Commandments.
Best read books in your library
Keys, sAlso the Hills Smith,
"A Tree Grows In BROOKLYN"
Scott, God Is My ce-Pilot;"
Douglas, "The Robe" Davenport,
| aNalLo. ~ no0.a.-.n - Inn