NEW NOVELS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 17

NEW NOVELS

AMERICAN TOWN IN WAR TIME Night Outlasts the Whippoorwill. By Sterling North. Cobden-Sander-son. 295 pp. Small communities the world over reacted similarly to the influence of the Great War. The same mob, hysteria that attacked British com-; munities attacked in their turn American communities. The same kinds of atrocious acts were committed against persons of alien blood; the same types of mind were thrown off their balance, the same kinds of schemers and self-seekers used the war for their own ends; the same types of men went off to fight, and the same types' of mothers and wives and sweethearts were left to wait. The position in Mr North’s American town is complicated by the presence of a community of German immigrants, and the town is divided against itself. The story concerns Early Ann Brailsford, whose young husband has joined the army, and the troubles that she faces in the feverish atmosphere of the town when her independent sympathies lead her to befriend young persons of alien blood or of similarly independent thoughts to her own. The author has made a candid exposure for thoughtful people to ponder on. BLUE BLOOD AND RED Flame In the Wind, By Margaret Pedler. Hodder and Stoughton. 314 pp. From W. S. Smart. Cara Glyn is a good and beautiful orphan girl, trying to get along. Starting penniless, with only good looks, a pretty singing voice, and a generous nature as her resources, she breaks into the moving picture business, in which she becomes a star. But before that, to help another girl and earn a few pounds, she has impersonated her at an aristocratic party and been unmasked by David Blakeney, a stern unbending Scot of handsome appearance, reluctant to recognise the virtues of persons whose blood runs less blue than his own. Moreover, he is handicapped by a prejudice against actresses, instilled by the unfortunate misalliance of his father, who married one. But Cara loves David, and David loves Cara; and the hopeful romantic will cling to that through the vicissitudes and misunderstandings of Miss Pedler’s narrative. GANGSTER EARL The Earl of Chicago. By Brock Williams. George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd. 317 pp. Here is an old story in a clever new guise. The old Earl dies, leaving no is&ie, and a search is commenced for an heir. A wastrel brother of the Earl, after emigrating to America, has left an unhealthy reputation and a son, a gangster in Chicago, who succeeds to the title. Beneath the decidedly rugged exterior of the gangster beats a golden heart.. There is olenty of violent action before the Earl settles down to his responsibilities in the home of his forefathers. The_ author has made himself a master of what passes for language in Chicago’s underworld. RURITANIA UP TO DATE The Trappings Are Gorgeous. By Hilda Danvers Dearden. Robert Hale and Co. 287 pp. Nick Karlinn, American film star, while making a picture at Monte Carlo, suddenly finds life tasteless and boring. He sets out for the open country and there falls in with Jansi, a princess in her, own right, whose mother and father were murdered in her infancy by revolutionaries. Jansi is making her way back to her own country, where the revolutionary dictatorship is becoming decidedly unpopular; and the call has come for the reestablishment of the monarchy under the princess. This is an adventure right into Nick’s hands; he throws himself into its action, swift and dangerous and exciting. Nick, of course, falls in love with the princess and she with him; but she has to think of her country first. The ending is surprising and pleasant. FAT Fair, Fat Lady. By Noel de Vic Beamish. Ivor Nicholson and Watson. 320 pp. Th-ough Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. This is the pathetic story of a professional fat woman. Queenie Malone, half Jewish and half Irish, is born fat and grows fatter and fatter till in her late teens she is colossal. But the girl does not realise that she is different from other people till she falls in love with a poor . specimen of a •singer and finds that he is willing to marry her for her little bit of money. She marries him, disillusions him about the money, and adopts fat as her career by joining a circus. She prospers; but prosperity brings her little happiness, and the note of pathos and tragedy persists throughout the book. The author, however, has done a very good piece of work in developing this curious theme. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Gay Prelude. By Christian Folkard. Robert Hale and Co. 283 pp. This is a queer jumble of a story with little beginning and no ending. It purports to tell of the adventures of a young Englishman who lands in Sydney and falls among a queer collection of people, ranging from petty thieves to a bishop and his daughter. The Englishman, who is apparentfy semi-imbecile, allows himself to become the victim of an incredible set of circumstances and deserves all he gets. The book is humorous here and there. ALL ABOARD Sea Breezes. By George C. Foster. Ivor Nicholson and Watson Ltd. 388 pp. This book pretends to be no more than it is, a farcical story of the adventures of a young Minister of the Crown who becomes involved with a queer collection of irresponsibles. To escape them, he goes on an ocean cruise, only to find that they have also been struck with the same bright idea. There is a certain amount of humour in the book; but it is too obviously forced and artificial for the taste of readers not very easy to please. SOOTHSAYER The Passionate Astrologer. By Alan Griffiths. Arthur Barker Ltd. 284 pp. Through Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. Mr Griffiths has made a good job of this humorous fantasy. Gilbert Farmiloe, astrologer, lives a secluded life until he meets and falls in love with an angel with a broken wing, who visits him in his isolated cottage. Farmiloe’s visitor

leaves behind her record book in which are marked down coming events. He uses the knowledge to predict accurately the • winners of various sporting events and so makes for himself a great reputation. The fun is fast and furious while it lasts; but when the Authority in charge of the angels discovers the truth, the trouble begins.- It is all very amusing.