NEW FICTION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 3

NEW FICTION

The Proud Diana. By Rosemary Rees. Wright and Brown. 174 pp.

It is pleasant to record that "The proud Diana,” in spite of toe initial misunderstanding between toe hero and heroine (an inescapable feature of all romantic fiction) is both well-written and diverting. Diana Probyn, young, beautiful and very butter with toe husband who has repudiated her, decides to visit her grandfather in New Zealand, and put 12,000 miles between henself and her humiliation. Her grandparent’s Sheep-station proves to be a very modest one with a minimum of modern conveniences, but Grandad is a charming old man for whom she has affection from the start. This, however, does not apply to others, and she puts her pretty foot into it by repulsing toe too-familiar friendliness of toe shepherd’s wife, by referring to Maoris as "natives" and refusing to meet them on social terms, and by antagonising the farm manager, San Maekeilar, who is not only impervious to her charms but tells her off roundly when her behaviour merits reproof. Notwithstanding a gradual improvement

in her outlook and manners she is indiscreet enough to give toe local bad hat, Terence Radcliffe, some information which all but leads to his having her grandfather dispossessed of bis home, but Diana is able to retrieve the dangerous situation she has so foolishly created and all ends happily. The picture of New Zeeland country life both for Maori and pakeha is entertainingly presented by one who is obviously familiar with her subject.

The Blood of the Lamb. By Peter De Vries. Gollancs. 246 pp.

This novel with toe inappropriate title is not a happy story, nor is it one with a moral; it is toe record of a man’s foolishness, his immoralities, his love for his child, whose death left him desolate and still ait war with religion. Don Wenderhope, a Dutchman, brought up within the clamp of rigid Calvinism, rebels furiously against religion, becomes a bitter, taunting youth whose one concern is sexual satisfaction. He marries, his wife dies a drunkard and their only child contracts leukaemia. The narrative of toe child’s sojourns in hospital and all toe details of her treatment, is poignant. When she dies, he goes to a Roman Catholic church, which had, for some time, attracted him. Over the doorway is a figure of Christ on the cross, and cursing, he throws an icecream cake at the face of Christ. That he was drunk at toe time does not lessen toe tremendous consequence

tods act made upon him. He soon steps beck from his near approach to religion and becomes a lonely, frustrated man.. The writing is taut and impressive, toe portrayal of toe many characters in toe book is superb. "The Blood of toe Lamb” is obviously the blood of his Child penetrated by cancer cells. This is a moving story that cannot easily be dismissed by any reader. '

Henry’s War. By Jeremy Brooks. Macmillan. 186 pp.

The complexities of modem Hie, and their effect on a man temperamentally disinclined for violent action is toe toeme of tods book. Henry Hywel Hughes, to give his full name, lives more or less blamelessly in London, earning a modest living by writing rather indifferent torillers. His masterful fiancee. Veronica, is, however, given to supporting causes, more especially pacifism, and as Henry, during a five year spell of military service after toe war, had shot and killed a young Cypriot, he was so fair in sympathy with her as to join in a march to Aldermaston, though with no real conviction Save the resolution never again to take the life of another human being. The more or less accidental presence in his bed one morning of a strange young woman detaches him from Ms unwilling thraldom to Veronica, but when some colonial dispute arises in one at Britain’s dependencies and he is called up to toe Army to help suppress an incipient rebellion, ail his latent antagonism to such a task arises within him, and, together with a friend of his youth he ignores his call-up papers, and flees to his boyhood home in Wales. Here on a farm he continues peaceably to record the latest adventures and hairbreadth escapes of his fictional hero Colchester. Circumstances prove too strong for this negative approach to life and drive him into a course which is admired by some and condemned by others—toe fate of all those who cannot follow a defined course of conformity. There is much wit and some good argument in this book which is a treatise of the times we live in. What is a matter of supplementary interest to a reviewer is that one of the few impositions of censorship still observed on the use of obscene words has been lifted in a volume which is not by modern standards otherwise very daring.

They’re Never Far Away. By D. Hirham. Eyre and Spottiswoode. 254 pp.

David Higham’s novel could very well be called “Casanova Married.” It is, however, a serious study of marital infidelity which will probably give offence, because of its frankness. The story begins when Roderick Harter marries. He is certainly in love with his wife, Rachel, who is really a somewhat idealised figure—pretty, talented, and sensible. But women—all women—are attracted to Roderick, and he can never resist, so this sad story drags on from one adultery to another. Of course, for Roderick, each one is a new love affair; and the puzzled reader wonders how he ever finds time to get on with his profession; he is a successful architect. His marriage naturally comes to a long-drawn-out, rather desolating end. Sincerity shines out of every page of “They’re Never Far Away”; but Roderick is a stupid fellow after all, and his adventures cease to interest when he has been captured for the second or tiiird time.