THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

THE ENGLISH NOVEL. J A BRILLIANT REVIEW. JCo one can justly cavil at the Book Society's recommendation for January, for f The Facts of. Fiction "• by Norman Collins is a very striking and brilliant ■ review of the' English novel from Richardson to Joyce. It is doubtful if a critical book has appeared in this generation so judicial, so .balanced, which yet contrives to find so many original and interesting things to say on such wellwont themps. Mr. Collins is an adept rt plunging into ail author's equipment find coming out with the very essence of his quality expressed in terms so exact and —crystallised as to remain for ever memorable. Thus of Dickens lie Fays "that Hip memory of worse things is about half ■the spcict of his huge and human sympathy"; of Galsworthy that "his sentiment is that of a man looking at life as

it. recede? from,' him. We almost hear the melancholy train whistle." Or. ngain, of Meredith tbo novelist, "wo have always the feeling that his speaking voice might be more pleasant if he had pot sung so much." In dealing with contemporary fiction Mr. Collins devotes most space to the puzzling writers,, those whose original methods have attracted, piqued and irritated orthodox readers— George Moore, D. 11. Lawrence and James Joyce—because very nearly the last word, until posterity finally chooses among them, has been said about the " regulars"—Wells, Bennett and Galswortliv.

If for nothing else tlie book would be rotable for the chapter headed " The Case Against D. H. Lawrence," which, re-valuing, gives Lawrence his due but denies him the almost divine plane to which fanatical disciples have sought to elevate him. " Lawrence was so sensitive to the rest of life that he was like a man born without his skin; impressions and emotions everywhere struck him full on raw, naked nerves." Readers will find the judicial criticism of inestimable value in appraising and appreciating Lawrence's wayward genius. Nevertheless Mr. Collins finds something to the point to add to the " regulars," attempting to reconcile the dramatist in Galsworthy with the surprisingly different novelist; inquiring whether fiction with Wells was a recreatioji from his many other selves or a last resort to make the public hear his voice; lightening the burden of vulgarity charged against Bennett by observing the scholar who wa§ a connoisseur in the art of enjoying life daintily. < ' The lively y.et discriminating touch which keeps the reader on the jump is Been in his conclusion. "In short the golden rule for readers would seem to be: • Beware of the contemporary writer, he is foolhardy,' and for writers, Beware of the contemporary reader, he is a fool.' " Mr. Collins, it will be seen, both demands and merits attention. The Facts of. Fiction," by Norman Collins. (Gollancz.)

BEVERLEY NICHOLS' LATEST,

STORY OF A SINGER. " Evensong." by Beverley Nichols, is disappointing. It is even a little pathetic, if one dare to be sentimental over Mr. Nichols, for the failure of his book is obviously the consequence of enforced brightness and cleverness. Five years igo Mr. Nichols was writing brilliantly. His novel " Crazy Pavements " showed what he was capable of and his autobiography " Twenty-five " had a delightful spontaneity and insouciance. Now it leems thai his countless magazine and newspaper articles upon the inanities of modern life have cost him dearly. His writing has lost its freshness. His eyes miss nothing, but he would seem to bo so frantically busy being clever that lie has lost his ear. The Beverley Nichols touch that charmed his readers has gone and so far nothing has taken its place. " Evensong-' is presented as a s.udy of the last years of song of a world-famous soprano. Mr. Nichols works hard to be bright. He sometimes forgets that it is a novel he is ■writing and not social jottings in "Vanity Fair." For instance, "Lord Lonsdale's yellow and coronated chariot gave strangers the impression that bis lordship was touring Mayfair with a new line in ladies' hats" is a personal touch that Lord Lonsdale arid his friends might, find amusing, but it scarcely enhances the quality of Nichols' novel. J[is portrayal of a world-famous soprano is insignificant both as a. study and as a novel. It, will interest those who enjoy the rubbish published about " movie " stars. Mr. Nichols heroine is an unpleasant Ivpe <"*f woman. Slip has been closely observed, but although it has been sugC n Mfd that she is identical with Dame Melba, Mr. Nichols fails to bring her to life as a convincing -characterisation.

Evensong," - by Beverley Nichols ((.'up<\)

STUDY IN DEAFNESS

NOT QITI'E CREDIBLE. Lorna/Rea, whose " Six Mrs. Greenes " *ns such a delightful surprise, has this year published " The Happy Prisoner," a dolicatelv-told sforv of a girl who was happily deaf. Clare, 1 fin youngest daughter of Lord remljiidge, was almost completely deaf at fifteen. She lived a delightful and sheltered life in a world of h<n- ov.n making and imagining. She naively thought that nil thai, was beautiful was also good and that tile brilliant poiit iciaus who weie present, af her father's dinner parties wero incapable of anything ignoble. She was perfectly happy to sit beside her mother upon the, fifinsion of a party and watch the faces tfiind the table. Nobody ever addressed her because since she was unable to con trM her voice she li.ul rather sit and watch. Her parents always explained her disability to strangers. In this way the was so sheltered that it had never occurred to her that people might find her an object of pity. Realisation does fventiinlly come to her. but, it brings with it rplease. An operation restores her hearing. She falls in love, marries and is bitterly 'disillusioned all in the course rtf a year. Deafness descends upon her again and she welcomes if. Once again she is a happy prisoner, safo in Hie world of her imaginings. The story is most delicately and sympathetically written, so that Lorna Rea almost carries the reader v, ith her. Once ihe book is closed nnd the spell bioken the reader is not quite nble to accept such a happy prisoner. "The Happy Prisoner," by Lorna, Hea. (Heinemann.)