Books.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 20, 30 November 1928, Page 13

Books.

,uernneesemeneueeatieed NOR MANY WATERS.

Alee

Waugh

[N his latest novel Mr. Alec Waugh has returned to what is obviously the city of his heart. Not, however, the London of cabaret and cocktail of former short and frothy stéries, but the capital of twenty-five years back is the stage upon which he moves his puppets in his rendering of that wellworn theme, the unhappy yoking of mature man and immature maid. This is something of 4 . treatise upon English divorce laws of the last century, the youthful and able author attacking with Galsworthian indignation and tenacity the lamentable injustice of those laws in their relation to women, The thread upon which he hangs his thesis is the attempt made by a young and lovely woman: to obtain legal freedom from marriage with a man for whom she has but a tepid affection; and in whose possession. she finds one of those letters unwisely penned by men and women--usually the latter--when in the throes of a dubious passion. Unhappy and inexperienced, the wife supposes this indubitable evidence of unfaithfulness is sufficient to enable her to escape from a captivity that has become hateful to her; but finds that is not so simple, that she must also prove cruelty, and in the process of obtaining legal redress, herself endure harassing comment and innuedo. nuendo. This is the framework. upon which is built the chivalrous love of the lawyer who takes up the case.of the fascinating plaintiff; and, as the weeks pass, the two find themselves enmeshed in an irresistible attraction. Marian is fresh and fair, and unspotted from the world; though, it would seem, surprisingly free with kisses and caresses in an era when attractive young women did not make these demonstrations in public. She frivols and flutters in and out of the pages; but finally in those difficult days when ‘newspaper reports were not restricted, and men and women could not seek private recourse for private grievances without making Aunt Sallies of themselves in public," she withdraws her plea. and. impelled by unselfiish wish

to save her lover from social ruin, makes reconciliation with her husband, and goes forth with him to hegin again amid fresh fields and pastures new of Australia. Mr. Waugh is a shrewd observer, and possessed of an uncanny knowledge of the human heart, remarkable when one realises how few are the years since this author stormed the novel-reading world, at the age of eighteen, with "The Loom of Youth," -R.U.R.