MELBA IN FICTION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 January 1932, Page 5

MELBA IN FICTION

(Press Assn.—

londqn sensatiqn has beverley nichols used diva AS character in novel? ; FORMERLY HER SECRETARY

-By . Telegra ph — Copyright).

Rec". Jan. 18," 5.5^ p.m. , ' • - • LONDON, Sunday. ' London newspapefs" fegaird' "as a sensation Beverley Nichols' he'w hovel "Evensong," which Johnathah- Capd is publishing t'o-day.- They emphasise that the novel deals with 'the decline of -a -world-f anious soprano, and- point oiit that for' some years the author afct'ed 'aS Madame ■ Melba's ^ secretaty, and that ! -there are- resembldnces between Madame Irela and the great Australian- -singer. *, '' The "Daily Express" begins its revieW as follows: "As-Melba might hkve said, Bravo, bravo Beverley Nichols for' your most entertaining' bbok, and how perf ectly of you tb make Irela so like me',f" iThe reviewer -goes on: "Madarti'e -Irela," Which Nichols p'ronounceS Jralya" is-' an elderly ' sbprano, :Whose"- phyStcal- ahd voeal':debay is brutally paintbd"'by tAis cynical young mah: W e are- told the characters are-ficticidus, but those . who kneW Madame' Melb'a, Will Woner where was Nichols' tongtte', when he made that statement." 'The"reviewer also poihted' out th'e malicious 'pMy made of Madame Irela's annual farewell; •• " " •=. "Moreover," he "contimles, "Madame Irela has queer physicaf tricks, shch ■ as- 'tapping the ground with the tbe of her right fboty biting Ker upp'er lip and the very determined drossirig of her foof when she is nervous and ill tempered. Madame Melba had exactly- the Same manherisms. Madame' Irela is terribly jealous of-^^Baba," a young sopran'o in her c'ompany, and the reviewer adds that Madame Melba could never bear any challenge to' - her supremacy as "Q^een of Song."