Books.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 32, 22 February 1929, Page 13

Books.

A GIRL ADORING

Viola

Meynell

HIS book will be read, not for the story, which is slight to vanishing point, but for its ironic, humorous, unflinching interpretation of motives and meannesses that lie below superficialities of the passing show. Beauteous is the youthful heroine, of a self-efface-ment unconvincing in a_ post-war world with a slogan of "each flapper for herself," and rapt in adoration of Hague, a neighbouring land-owner, who apparently farms and makes love with equal celerity and efficiency. The nebulous love-story glimmers in and out of the pages, running its course to the conventional happy ending foreseen from the beginning. Though this is the tale that is told real interest abounds in unerring obser vation of the ways of men, and lucida comments anent idiosyneracies of puppets who stalk, amble and flit through sunny rooms: of an admirably-run country house. All is narrated in leisurely and impersonal fashion, to he commended to flambtioyant novelisi= in bud; and heightened by more than a modicum of malice in dissection cf the handsome and agreeable land maz: nate, that arch hypocrite, Morley. svho is held up to derision with conspicr ous ability and whole-hearted scorn, Miss Meynell is an acute and merci less eritic of human fallibility, and portrays with unemphatie clarity and insight the smug characteristics of her victim, usually more or less concealesi under a veil of altruistic bonhomie. Unerringly she tracks his egoism #nd selfishness to their lair, and holds up for our delectation his amiable weakness for quelling other people's joy. and their simple pleasure in the ways and byways of life. "Tt would be enrious to know how many small joys were spoilt by this attribute -of ,Morely’s, how much pleasant interest he damped, how

much life he flattened and dulled whenever it approached him too buoyantly and with too much hope. . denying to people unimportant satisfactions, giving them insignificant disappointments when he could." HE novel is essentially Morely, his book, and upon him-the author has used all her vitriolic skill; but other characters, who appear and disappear to no great purpose, are excellent portraits in little. Do we not recognise Miss Nugent, the bookish bore, who "listened intently, waiting to pounce, and by her attitude making our few evasive remarks seem like the opening of a debate. We hadn’t cared for any of the characters? How strange! Had we not observed the inherent nobility of the hero in that’ passage on page 6. chapter 3?" Truly a fatiguing lady to meet at a dinner-party. And others also are impaled with impish and subtle skill. Obviously a student of the late Henry James, it is probable that Miss Meynell’s readers, like those of the restrained and fastidious novelist whose books are eaviare to the mob, will prove themselves overwhelmingly enthusiastic or bored to despairing ennui, -R.U.R,