RICHARD CHURCH’S NEW NOVEL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

RICHARD CHURCH’S NEW NOVEL

Characters Of “The Porch” Met Again “Tlie Stronghold," by Richard Church (London : Dent). Successor Io the prize-winning novel, "The Porch," this book carries the life history of John Quiekshott and bis associates a stage further, but is quite self-contained. This time the group ot’ people, young and old, are seen against tlie background of the war years and studied as they are affected, each in liis or her own way, by Hie world-shat-tering events of the limes. By means of a magnificently diversified set of characters Mr. Church contrives to show how (he lives of all sorts of people were changed. A gift for faithful characterization is an essential qualification for a novelist, and Mr. Church is able to make his little stageful of people seem entirely real in a manner which bespeaks both a deep and sympathetic understanding of human nature and consummate craftsmanship.

Quiekshott is a young Customs clerk, who wants to be a doctor, and with tlie will-power and ability to see his resolve through to the bitter end. Mr. Church’s touch is sure here. We are shown a young man, thin, nervous and overworked, yet burning with an inner fire that keeps bis purpose ever before him. But Quiekshott is no paragon. He has the human weaknesses that nobody escapes—-and they make him all the more convincing, for the author is yet able to instil in the minds of his readers confidence that this young man wilt one day be a great doctor. Description of bis work in the Customs department enables interesting glimpses to be given of the routine and traditions of the British Civil Service. Dorothy Shinier, John’s friend of long standing, from whom be becomes for a time estranged, is another tine character, and there are an unusual number of others, young and old, all woven skilfully into an uncommonly interesting fabric. The scene moves from London to France and back again, as the people in the book are in various ways caught into the maelstrom of the war. Mr. Church's prose is good to read. There is a moving description of a serious operation that is watched by medical students, and another fine passage occurs when Quiekshott is forced to officiate at the birth of Dorothy’s sister’s baby during an air raid on Loudon.

Readers will await with eagerness the appearance of an account of the further progress of the young people in this book.