Our Fortnightly Book Review

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 33, 27 February 1931, Unnumbered Page

Our Fortnightly Book Review

A WOMAN ON HER WAY

By

JOHN Van

DRUTEN

HAT brilliant study of the psychology of adolescence, "Young Woodley," brought Mr. van Druten an immediate popular success, and raised high anticipation of his future work. ""4 Woman.on Her Way," however, comes somewhat in the nature of a surprise. Good enough in its way. it yet fails to fulfil expectations. This story of a modern novelist, entirely without malice or morals, con‘cerns Elinor Johnson, who at forty years of age is vital, intelligent, tolerant, and, we are led to deduce, fascinating to the male of the species, though it is puzzling to locate just where her appeal comes in. Here is a portrait of the successful writer as first presented to us: "She was lying full length on her stomach on a pile of, cushions, waving her stockinged feet in the air, running her hands through her hair and scratching her head." The coterie of which Elinor is leading lady is composed of members of a meretricious pseudo-artistic and theatrical set, who move in their orbits with an abiding. self-satisfaction. and whose lives are governed by impulse and shallow emotions, their conversation being freely interspersed with semi-profanity and backbiting of the more virulent variety. Possibly these frisky, frolicking marionettes of both sexes and all ages are tolerably faithful to portraits of certain members of the community who pine for publicity and to whom noforiety is the breath of life, but we hear too much of them in Mr, van Druten’s novel, and they prove as boring in fiction as in fact Occasionally amid the voluble idlers drifts Richard Gilchrist, Blinor’s lifelong friend, bitfer, unhappy and disillusioned, and drowning despair in the easy alcoholic way. The experiences of the bluff and hearty woman novelist in America are vividly written, embodying trenchant but kindly criticism of men and manners in New York. And there are good chapters anent production of a

successful play, with interesting sidelights on the theatrical microcosm, the ramifications of which. the author knows inside and out. ; But, above all, we are invited to find intellectual interest in Blinor’s philanderings, of which we confess we grow weary. Not at all the type of amoureuse, she. appears as devoid of "charrum" as the heroine in the delicious Barrie play. Yet, though energetically flouting suggestion of promiscuity, she frankly states sum total of past lovers as seven, and proceeds to add to this hefty total. Not fastidious as to the temporary sharer of bed and board, we are told that "She always liked bounders. They had a quality of effrontery and sheer cheek to which something in her responded: it was, perhaps, that they . seemed to have so much more gusto’ for life than other people." ° Mr. van Druten manages his narrative with skill, decision and some knowledge of the human heart; but it is too long, too diffuse, and one tired of his puppets. who live: in. an atmosphere of cocktails, Christian names, and extravangant endearments, and to whom lying, slandering and adultery are everyday concomitants of existence. The latter part of the story concerns Elinor’s love episode with an unsuecessful dramatist, who turns to her in weak self-pity and despair, and whom, despite the fact that he is young enough to he her son, she comforts in the old, old way. ‘The snbsequent futile divorce proceedings exasperate and alienate her circle. who. true totype and to their adage, "Never be found out," leave her in the lurch. Spiritually tempest-tossed and nerveracked, Wlinor loses the courage and zest that have been her attributes, until she comes across Richard Gilchrist, grieving for his dead wife, hopeless and shattered as herself; and the two agree to join forces and make what

they ean of the future under. the aegis of the holy estate. We do not think "A Woman on Her Way" will add anything to Mr. van Druten’s als ready established literary reputation, —