The chronicle., 1963-12-20
New Books
By United Press international

~ 0W II
BY United Press International
Pompadour, by Jacques Lev
ron (St. Martins Press $685.:
This book is obviously an at
tempt to give a fair and i'm
partial account Of the life
of one of the most important
figures in French history, the
Marquise de Pompadour. AS a
young and beautiful matron she
caught the appreciative eye of
Louis XIV and soon answered
his summons to become his
mistress. She separated from
her husband and for seven
years enjoed the alteration Of
Louis above all rivals. When
the inevitable happened and
Louis transferred his love to.
younger girls, Pompadour re-
tanned the kings regard as a.
friend and adviser. She took an
active part in politics and for
eign affairs, and probably had
a large part in engineering
Frances alliance with Austria
in the disastrous seven-yearS
war with Prussia and England
in which France lost holdings
in Canada, America and India.
Pompadour was blamed, prob
ably unfairly, for this defeat.
She has been criticized for ex-
cessive ambition and ruthless
ness in pursuing her ends, but
Levron's book makes clear that
her driving motive was the
glory Of France. Louis recog-
nized the value of her friend
ship and advice and remained
her staunch friend to her death
at Al. Translation from the
French is by Claire Eliane En-
gel.
The Great Wines Of Germany
by Andre L. Simon and S. F..
Hallgarten (McGraw-Hill $685.
A handsome volume, profusely
illustrated in color, and a typo
graphical delight. A certain
pomposity in the text detracts
what might otherwise be
a necessary reference work in
the library of every wine buff.
EgotiSm can be forgiven the au-
thors, the first Of whom is the
grand old man of the Wine and
Food Society of London, parent
organization of similar societies
throughout the world. Simon's
knowledge Of his subject can no
more be questioned than his
comfortable awareness that he
possesses that knowledge,
In September he sent a letter
to every Wine and Food Socie-
ty member observing that IL
shall be leaving for a goodwill
tour Of the society's branches
in Australia, and New Zealand,
which means that / will be
away for some months, but it
would lamentable, indeed, if the
society, now 80 years of age,
still had to hold my hand to
The wine amateur will
have the impression that both
authors assume he too cannot
walk unless they personally
take him in hand.
Qualification as an objective
teacher is not so tenable in
Hallgarten's case as in Simon's
since the former is himself a
wine exporter with merchandise
to sell. In reading the text, one
has a glimmer of why so many
German wine producers have
misjudged the American taste
a wider margin than, for in
stance, the French.
The Germans seem convinced
that the American palate fayors
sweet, a position to
they appear to cling with
a Teutonic tenacity possibly in
volving more ego than aware
ness. Supporting the impression
conveyed that things European
are necessarily superior, the
volume itself, which Of course
IS in English, was printed in the
Netherlands. Even the jacket
bears the proud label of Euro
bean origin.
Chicago's place in the world
letters is unique, especially
n its being the inspiration for
4 school of realism which bios
a generation aoo Tn