“MEN WHO MARCH AWAY.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 286, 31 October 1934, Page 2

“MEN WHO MARCH AWAY.”

There is a definitely old-fashioned flavour about Henry Andover’s “Men Who March Away,” and some people may be irritated by the characters’ almost prim conversation. But this novel has solid qualities, which triumph in the end over drawbacks, and the characterisation is of a high order. The wild fells and wooded dales of Cumberland form the setting for first dozen chapters, which cover Edward Dorman’s life before the war. At 35 this introspective man was viewing himself with disfavour, realising that so far he iiad “gone his ways alone, giving no hostages to fortune, tolerably content,” but living a negative, uninspired sort of existence. He returned apathetically to his native Cumberland, and from then on his life acquired a new significance as a result of influences which the writer carefully There is a charming picture of life among the landed aristocracy of the north before the war. The characteristic prejudices, the neighbourliness, the work and pastimes of these secluded people have been well suggested. By way of contrast we have the war in France and oti the “home front,” and this section of the novel has been capably handled, notably a description of tlie fighting at Loos. Edward “finds himself” as a distinguished soldier, as well as a somewhat slow-moving lover, and Mr Andover reserves a not displeasing fate for him in the closing scene.