BOOK OF THE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

BOOK OF THE WEEK

AN ADMIRABLE ROMANCE

(By

C.E.)

“Song Bird," by Sophia Cleugh: Hodder' and Stoughton, Ltd., London,' through W. S. Smart, Sydney. '’c’’ : '..

“Sophia Cleugh,'author of ‘Spring’ ” is the publishers’ way of introducing the writer of “Song Bird:” I do hot know “Spring,” but it is always interesting to come upon a; new writer, and I take it that Sophia Cleugh is only one remove from that category. It was therefore in an inquiring attitude that I approached “Song Bird” and set myself the pleasant task of ascertaining the capabilities of a new author.' It is decidedly with a sense of- satisfaction that I’put down the book, having read a very pretty story and found -somethimr to admire in the craftsmanship of Sopliia Cleugh.

- The - story is fascinating because it hag to do with the life of the stage, with circus and vaudeville in the background, the combination being a good one. The heroine, is a great singer, and her rise to fame is a romance. At the age of nineteen Nina Hariana, a beautiful Spanish girl, is with the noted acrobat Roderiguez, employed to look after his two little boys and also to do a small turn in the circus to which they are attached. While they are on holiday Nina attracts the notice of Don Estaban, heir to the Duque di Ventura, and they fall passionately in love witty each other. They run away together and marry according io gipsy rites, and Estaban and she spend some time in North Africa. They settle down at San Remo, and on her twentieth birthday Nina’s eon is born. But already Estaban has apparently grown cold.. Quarrels occur, and four months later Nina runs away. The trouble is that' Estaban’s aristocratic mother is in the background and has been using every subtle means at her command to draw him from the common circus girl. Nina does not know this, but she is miserable, and d suggestion from a well-known singer that she should place herself in the hands of Salvatore, a great impresario, helps her to make uh her mind to leave Estaban. So Nina goes to Paris, and after a long training Salvatore takes her in- hand and proceeds to launch her as the greatest singer of her time, She makes her appearance as Carmen in London and takes the musical world by storm. During her Parisian life Nina has seen much of the Roderiguez twins, Manuel and Miguel, and of Pierro Chanel, a musician whose lot has not been fortunate. Pierre naturally is deeply in love with her, but Nina, though she con-, aiders herself no longer bound to Estaban, hesitates long before her sweet affection for Pierre persuades her to marry him.. Estaban has married a lady of his own rank, evidently regarding the tie to Nina as no great lindrance. An acknowledged queen of song, Nina also becomes a .great ladygreat enough to retain her humble • friends and enjoy her simple pleasures. She meets Estaban, who is again greatly attracted, and Estaban’s mother, but now, of course, the former lovers are definitely apart. Whether anything can occur to bring them together again is for the novelist to say. and there is no need here to reveal her decision. But readers will find that the story carries them along very pleasantly until the climax is reached. It cannot be said that the author has developed a highly original plot, which, after all, it would be difficult to do. But she has shown considerable ingenuity in the treatment of a romantic theme. It may be thought that she dovetails events into one another almost too smoothly, with the result that it. is, if not the expected, at any rate the suspected that happens. That, however,,is quite good artistry, even if it je admitted 0 that what is revealed is nc.t genius but painstaking craftsmanship.

But if the construction of the story is rather conventional, there arc other features that are worthy of much praise. Miss a guess one would call her “Miss" —has drawn her characters unusually well. Nina is wonderfully consistent. ■ At the outset a high-spirited, romantic Spanish girl, somewhat impulsive, affectionate, goodnatured and loyal in.her friendships, she remains unspoilt by either adversity or success. Hers is a fine nature, and her creator has portrayed it with very marked skill. Estaban, too, appears to be true to type. The influence of birth and bringing-up is very strong in the years of his early, manhood, but Estaban is no rotter.. For a long time one regards him as misguided, but he is genuine.. -. Apart from these there are several important roles, which are well filled. The acrobatic twins, Miguel and Manuel, are delightful young Jolk. Even in • their very callow youth “they are extraordinarily precocious, and yet they are thoroughly good-hearted and lovable. ’ Wide as is their worldly wisdom, they, like Nina, are in no danger of being spoilt, and their adoration of their heroine is very beautiful. Nina’s impresario is another character to whom one takes a fancy, for the author is adept at revealing the simplicity of this big man’s nature. Pierre, again, inevitably evokes one’s sympathy, and eventually admiration, and Nina’s little son Ramon, who grows to manhood in the course of the story, is. altogether adorable. It may be that the action runs rather too smoothly, and most of the people who take part in it are nearer angelic rank than they should be. Yet the story presents convincing pictures of life in unusual places and under widely varyiim conditions. In its intimate, details o? Nina’s domestic life with little Ramon and the twins the story is full of charm, for Nina heraeii Iws the faculty of drawing out tire best of everyone because, she is so full of sympathy and affectionate gratitude. “Song Bird’’ is both ft very pretty and a thoroughly ■ wholesome story, and that is much to be. thankful for in these days when one picks up the work of ft new writer with some hesitation. With ..a little more “devil" in her work—a very modest type of “devil,”, of course— Clough-will be,, able to take high, tank among ’ the novelists of ' to-day!