FAMILY CHRONICLE
RETURN TO JALNA, by Mazo de la Roche; Macmillan. HE main bar to the complete enjoyment of Mazo da la Roche’s latest novel is its constant switching from one set of characters to another. Indeed, there is so much choppiness in the work that the net result is a lack of co-ordination between the various elements which go to make up the story. The truth is, that the chronicles of the Whiteoak Family are thinning out in the possibilities of events, and yet the author relentlessly persists in trying to play an old tune in another way. This is the tenth book of chronicles, and the fact might be regarded with some awe, if pity were not mixed with the feeling-pity that an author should not know when to leave well alone. (continued on next page)
BOOK REVIEWS (Cont’d,)
Even Galsworthy knew when to stop writing about the Forsytes; and Miss de la Roche is no-Galsworthy. Her "characters dre not vivid enough, in contrast with her earliest books; her epi--sodes are too sketchy; her attempts to give "body" to her work are too forced and unnatural. The author’s style has fallen from the higher standards she aimed. at in her earlier work, though. not because she has lost the’ innate power for finding words: the fault lies in working a & which is completely exhausted.
B.L.
C.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19490729.2.28.3
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 527, 29 July 1949, Page 15
Word count
Tapeke kupu
228FAMILY CHRONICLE New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 527, 29 July 1949, Page 15
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in