English Novelists

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 424, 8 August 1947, Page 9

English Novelists

[| WO BBC programmes were heard on the same Sunday afternoon from 4YA, each having the English novel as its subject; and although it is a far cry from Dickens to Henry James, it is interesting to compare the treatment of the two programmes. The first was in the Dickens Characters series, and was just what it purported to be, a representation of the Vincent Crummles family, that appallingly talented crew whose spiritual descendants can be found today, even in New Zealand (the young Ninetta, especially, has been seen at least once on every amateur stage in the country). There was little in this programme in the way of explanation and elaboration, but Dickens was allowed to speak for himself in several well-pro-duced scenes from the book, Henry James, on the other hand, occupied a place in the series The Written Word: Development of the English Novel, and one was treated to much dissertation regarding his nationality, his detachment of outlook, his obliquity, his subtlety, his place in the scheme of the novel; and only occasionally did the speaker allow him to speak for himself by means of quotations (which may have been a good idea, since Henry James is probably not an ideal choice for reading over the air). These two programmes, approaching their subjects from opposite poles as far as method of presentation went, certainly achieved identical ends; both made one feel the necessity for further acquaintance with the writer represented. The only thing is, which shall I read first?