NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1935, Page 9 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

SIR P. GIBBS’ NEW PARABLE. VILLAGE IDYLL AND TRAGEDY. "Blood Relations,” by Phillip Gibbs. Hutchinson and Co., London. A. J. Fyfe Ltd., New Plymouth. Sir Philip Gibbs has written many parables about the Great War and the bewilderment it left behind. In “Blood Relations” he has returned to the study of individuals and their reactions to war and to the consequences of victory or of defeat. When Audrey Middleton became Countess Paul von Arnsberg three months before the Great War began the reader is prepared for a new outlook upon events and circumstances in regard to which Sir Phillip has gained a reputation for knowledge and understanding. Nor is that anticipation disappointed. The description of England before the war reads true all through. It was a lovely country for. those to whom the Fates had been kind. A country in which the aristocrat lived humbly yet certain that bis position was secure from challenge; a land of lovely country houses whence issued so many members of the most care-free and attractive Society the world. has ever known—the undergraduates of pre-war Oxford and Cambridge. It was 'at Oxford that Count Paul von Arnsberg made acquaintance with “Young England,” and the difference between the outlook of well bred German youths and those of English birth is vindicated with much deftness. Paul accompanies a university friend to his home for a holiday and falls in love with the daughter of the house. Even in the old country house, quite insignificant compared with his father s castle in Bavaria, he is puzzled by the familiarity displayed towards servants by the family. Edward Middleton introduces his father’s coachman who meets them at the station as though it was the most natural thing to do, whereas Paul was used to a deference from the servants that he looked in vain for in England. Even Colonel and Lady Middleton received none of the respect customary from sons and daughters to parents in Germany. Paul found himself called “Fritzie” by the younger sons of the, house before he had been there an hour or two, and called “Paul” by Audrey as though it was the usual way of addressing her brother’s pals. It is not until later stages of the book are reached that one realises the importance of this study of national characteristics to an understanding of the new parable Sir Phillip has given the world. For two months after their marriage Paul and Audrey lived radiant days. His people were kind to her and she had a sense of humour that helped to accommodate her nature to the different circumstances she has deliberately chosen. It was -summer weather and the stateliness ■of life at the Castle was tempered by the young people who came . to make her acquaintance, and their determination to make her happy.

Soon, of course, the war shadow drew across the lives of Paul and Audrey and of millions of other families. The summer party at the Castle was broken up and Paul, Audrey and his parents returned to Berlin. There the bitterness of her position became manifest to Audrey. Although personal kindness to her never faltered, she heard England villified ‘and traduced on every hand. .Like many other young wives she had to face separation from her husband, •and for Audrey there was the added poignancy that it might be his duty io kill her own brothers whom, she felt sure, would be fighting for England. -Tire early days of the war were full of German victory. Then came the check at. the Marne and the w*eary trench warfare that was to continue for ■four years. It goes without saying that the story of the conflict is told well. Sir. Phillip has the faculty of “getting under _ the skin” of his characters, and he has given in other works vivid and heart-rending pictures of the savagery, the blind waste, the hideousness and the heroism .of war. Paul von Arnsberg heard of his first son’s birth as he came out of the first battle of . Ypres.' He was to know 'much more ■ campaigning before receiving ten days’ leave to visit Berlin Sand his family. ; One of the cleverest and most poignant chapters in the book is that describing Paul’s reunion with Audrey. War had altered them both. Paul felt .a film had grown betv/cen their souls and their understanding of each other was • dulled accordingly. Audrey could not forget that Paul had come from killing Englishmen and that he would go back to that ghastly duty. It said a good deal for the depth of their affection that they kept enough of it to prevent complete destruction of their beautiful idyll.

Paul was taken prisoner'and sent to England. Here again Sir Phillip shows remarkable understanding of the mind and nerves of the incarcerated soldier. Materially he was better off. He had food, clothing and shelter. A certain amount of liberty was his also, and he was spared the risks of the combatant. Yet the story of dullness and despair is most convincing while that of Paul’s escape and recapture has the stamp of reality. Germany in defeat was almost as bitter for Audrey as Germany cocksure of victory. Germany’s belief that the Allies would be magnanimous, her endeavour to accept self government instead of the domination that had become second nature, her bitter disappointment at the terms of the peace treaty, and her passionate repudiation of war guilt are made clear. Even Audrey finds it hard to maintain her old belief in the sportsmanship of he) - own race, and the pity of it all, in the light of what has happened since, is tragic. Paul obtains a minor post in the Foreign Office, and there becomes acquainted with Dr. Streseman. He be-, came the first Chancellor to accept the cost of defeat as inevitable, to make the best of it, and to act so that former enemies might be convinced' of Germany’s sincere adherence to the cause of peace. The hopes aroused at Locarno, the restoration of national pride when Germany entered the League of Nations, are referred to from the German point of view with all it was hoped they would implicate. All the world knows now that the hopes of Streseman and his supporters were in vain. Th' rise of Hitler and the Nazi movement was Germany's reply to what she considered were the broken promises of France, Italy and

Great Britain. That movement had its' effect upon Paul arid upon his Son. It was to bring fresh tragedy to Audrey who was to hear her-own son express his regret that he had any English blood in his veins. What the outcome will be is left for the reader' to' forecast for himself and the process will be worth While for all who wish for peace. “Blood Relations” is' an excellent' story—it "is also a parable and a warning. “A Thing of Nought,”- by -Hilda Vaughan. Rovat- Dickson and Thompson Ltd. London. A. J. Fyfe Ltd, New Plymouth. - ; The rather melancholy, but charming love story of ,an , old „ Welsh peasant woman is the “Tiling of Nought’ of which Hilda Vaughan writes. The narrative is of the Wales of two. generations ago, when religion was stem and. the way' of the alleged transgressor' was made very hard. Megan's lover, Penry Price, left her to seek his fortune in Australia and found hard 'times instead of wealth. He freed her from her promise to him ari< told her to forget him. She married a preacher Rees Lloyd, and then her lover returned.' '

Her husband’s jealousy aroused evil thoughts and speech, but Megan’s innocence was proven before her husband and her lover died. It is a haunting little story and the description of rural Wales, the atfnosphere of stern living amidst beautiful country scenes is exceedingly well done.