SENSATIONAL NOVEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1932, Page 7

SENSATIONAL NOVEL.

Beverley Nichols' Story Laid On Melba's Career ? DECLINE OF FAMOUS SOPRANO. LONDON, January 18. Newspapers in London are making a sensation out of Mr. Beverley Nichols' new novel "Evensong," which is published to-day by Jonathan Cape, Ltd. Reviewers emphasise the fact that the book deals with the decline of a worldfamous soprano. It is pointed out that for some years the author acted as secretary to the late Dame Nellie Melba, and that there are resemblances between Madame Irela of the novel and the great Australian singer.

The "Daily Express" begins its review | by saying: "As Melba might have said 'Bravo, bravo, Beverley Nichols, a deucedly entertaining book and how perfectly — of you to make Irela so like me.'" The reviewer goes on to say: "Irela, a " name . which Mr. Nichols pronounces Iralya, is an elderly soprano whose physical and vocal decay are brutally painted by this cynical younjr man. We are told that the characters in the book are fictitious, but those who knew Melba will wonder where Mr. Nichols' tongue was when he made that statement. Much pointed and malicious play is made of Irela's annual farewells. Moreover, Irela has queer physical tricks such as tapping the ground with the toe of her right shoe, licking her upper lip, and a very determined crossing of her feet when nervous or ill-tempered. Melba had exactly the same mannerisms.

"Irela is terribly jealous of Baba, a younf soprano in her company," the reviewer adds. "Melba could never bear any challenge of her supremacy as the queen of song."

Mr. Beverley Nichols has written various frank biographies. At the ape of ID on the conclusion of tlie Great War, he' became secretary of the British Universities Mission to the United States. Later, at Oxford, he was editor of the "Isis" and founder and editor of the "Oxford Outlook." He has visited, and randidlv commented upon, most of the countries of the world. He was editor of the "American Sketch, New_ York, 1928-29 Mr. Nichols' publications include: "Prplu'de" a public school novel; "Patchwork" "Self," "Twenty-five, An Auto-Tiincn-aohv." "Crazy Pavements, Are They the Same at Home?'; "The Star Spanftled Manner, Play, and The Stag."