Books.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Page 13

Books.

BROOK EVANS.

Susan

Glaspell

OVELS and plays by this writer are well and affectionately known to a public both in England and America. So that a new story from her pen is welcomed with interest, and this latest interesting narrative will not disappoint. Though there is much of passionate love in its many manifestions, this is rather the description of a mother’s devotion than the ordinary love-story. The interest does not flag, and diverse characters are limned with practised and convincing skill. A girl of the prairies, escaping from stern religious regime of her poor home, meets her lover by the beautiful waters of the brook after which she names her child. Him she loves with all her soul and body, and to him she gives herself, for they are to be married in "the fall." Joe, the debonair, brown-eyed lover of Naomi, is killed in a tragical harvesting accident; and she, distraught, is forced into marriage with the ungainly, unattractive Caleb, so loyal and kind, who is willing to marry her in spite of the knowledge that she carries the child of her dead lover. So they sail away, and it is with the child, Brook Evans, that the greater part of the story concerns itself; her adventures as a missionary in China, her marriage, and subsequent years in England. Finally, her husband dead, a beautiful and mature woman, she gives herself, as her mother before her, to the man she loves, and goes off with her passionate Icelandic to a wider world of dreams and hopes and banished regrets. Fierce, protective maternal love is depicted with skill and -knowledgelove that pathetically and wrong-head-edly strives to bestow the wine and eolour of life upon the adored daughter; but, as often in our knowledge,

the girl turns away, preferring her own way; her young vision, freedom to make or muddle her destiny as she will. And, by the irony of things, she reposes her heart’s trust and affection in "Father," the quiet, grey Caleb, that dull Quixote, and cares nothing for the memory of Naomi’s Joe, dead in the pride of his youth. The story perhaps is not of great moment; but characterisation of, divervent tvnes is excellently well conceived

and carried out.-

R.U.

R.