INSIDE GUNTHER

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 416, 13 June 1947, Page 9

INSIDE GUNTHER

ZHE TROUBLED MIDNIGHT, By John Gunther. Hamish Hamilton (Melbourne Branch). STORY of espionage, of interA national intrigue, in Istanbul during the war, this is a thriller which is more than a thriller, perhaps. too much more, It unravels the considerable emotional entanglements of the American heroine Leslie Corcoran, with .assured -competence, although the surprise ending is a dreadful Jet-down. John Gunther is very good at building up the general atmosphere of his book. His asides show. his wide knowledge of international issues. He can amuse or startle with a’ phrase or anec-date-the. correspondent who had had a dozen countries ‘shot under him, like horses." The writing is firm and direct so long as it is not too intimate. But he fumbles and loses his grip when he moves up nearer to his characters for. a movie close-up. Here is one of the novel’s Big Moments: "Never in his life had Gerald known anything like her kiss. The’ warm lips, solid but very soft, for the first moment restful; he felt his own lips press and. sink into them, restfully as if they were soft red pillows; then they were warmer, and he could feel the moistness; then they were moving pillows, so soft, solid and warm; her lips wefe parted now and they became very moist and naked, as if skinned; then their were one." In fact, The Troubled Midnight is an apt reminder that the novel to-day is no longer an art but has become an industry. This is the industrial product -skilful, vigorously written, mixing in enough action and enough sex, in discreet proportions, entertaining, amusing, peopled with, recognised types, "intermittently taking up the themes of the author’s reports from the political fronts. The virtuosity of an expert is

always fascinating to watch. This novel will be widely read and will dominate the book clubs. Then whatever is there

to moan aboutr

David

Hall