IN THE SEVERN VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 272, 13 August 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

IN THE SEVERN VALLEY

“Watch for the Morning,” by Geraint Goodwin (London: Cape). Mr. Goodwin, whose first novel, “The Heyday in the Blood,” met with considerable success, now presents a second, “Watch for the Morning.” The scene of this novel is the little English village of Moreton, lying in the beautiful Severn Valley, overshadowed by the Welsh Mountains. One sees it as a village that has been there from the beginning of time, and will remain, even though the new industries which, for a while brought a false prosperity to it, are gone. The people will remain, too; not the flotsam and jetsam of the mills, but the solid tradespeople who are the town. The picture of the valley is perfect. With the story, however, Mr. Good win is less successful. Edwin Bennett, a middle-aged widower, marries a young Welsh girl no older than bis daughter. They become friendly with two Welshmen, an Impulsive youim cleric who finds to his cost that might can be a stronger weapon than right, and his teacher friend who seduces the young wife. These characters are puppets, and.one is surprised to find them in so perfect a setting. The involved dissertations and dredgings. of the minds of the people-do not produce an impression of actuality, a contrast to the rich village dialogue, spoken in the vernacular, which is natural, economical, and full of native humour.