THE ORNAMENT OF ENGLAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 926, 10 May 1957, Page 12

THE ORNAMENT OF ENGLAND

SIR KENELM DIGBY, by R. T. Petersson; Jonathan Cape, English price 25/-. F the facts, legends and speculations connected with the life of Sir Kenelm Digby there are few which can have eluced Mr Petersson’s diligent pursuit, and for that matter few which do not adorn his detailed and well documented story. Conversely, the author’s touch is less assured when dealing with matters marginal to his hero’s career. Indeed, it appears that for him English history in the 17th century was dominated by spectacular types clothed in dramatic garments and active in grotesque gestures, rather than by human beings with whom one has firm contact. . . . Digby himself is a somewhat tiresome person if taken seriously. The main authority for his exploits is in his own florid writing. His account of his repulsion of the 15 rogues who villainously set upon him, of his rejection of amorous advances whether by the Queen of France or the selected beauties of Turkey, of his casual indulgence in piracy with much the same spirit and result as other men shoot partridéges, is in fluent, conventionally romantic style. It all adds up to an odd story unless taken with more humour and scepticism than Mr Petersson allows himself. Digby was a 17th century English gentleman, a cultivated dilletante in a rich and mobile society, which was torn by big issues vigorously debated. He was, of course, a Catholic, son of a gun-powder-plot conspirator, and his story throws light on the possibilities open to an educated and co-operative Catholic gentleman. Mr Petersson’s competent, indeed meticulous, inquiry does not, however; push on to that critical probing, that sceptical analysis, which

would penetrate the elaborate and elegant facade behind which Digby moved. Such digging and such criticism are in general left to the reader who, however, must be grateful for so rich a provision of varied information. _

F. L. W.

Wood