A FULL CANVAS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 19

A FULL CANVAS

i ?V Modern Hero" (Cassell), the latest novel by Louis Brom'field, there' are. introduced a dozen, or so interesting^ characters, some of whom have really very little to do with the story In fact, there are enough sketches and plots irt "A Modern Herb" to fill sovcraL ordinary novels, yet tho melodramatic, story; is,more or less coherent and consistently interesting.". Tho hero, Pierre Eadier, progeny of Mine. Azais, a famous leopard tamer and a Jewish banker, is a circus rider when ho captivates tho rustic- Joanna and has an affair, with her which really sets .tho tune of his entire, life: She' marries a farmer:and bears a son who is Pierre's; and this boy later on becomes tho chief object of his, life and tho source of its tragedy. But Pierre has a long way to travel beforo Peter grows up_. Ho leaves tho circus and goes into business,' progressing from cycles' to tho newly arrived automobiles and making a fortune by the way. He is helped by Leah, his elderly Jewish mistress, and by his marvellous mother; and by Various other -women who are charmed by his good looks and his attractive swagger. Ho marries a dreary creature whoso father can mako him a bigger and-better business man, 'and finding no happiness at home seeks it in tho usual way outside its-walls-through sirens of various types, and in tho companyl of his son.1 By-this time ho is Americanised into Paul RadGiy but a certain Jewish emotionalism' still marks him.