A LAPP SRORY

Radio Record, 12 June 1936, Page 26

A LAPP SRORY

Strange Characters in New Novel JN the translated novel by Hildur Dixelius, "Sara Alelia," there is: literary food for a generous proportion of palates. It is a story in a most unusual setting-that of Lapland over a period of some 80 years from the end of the eighteenth century. Although to a large extent biographical in tonefrequent brief quotations from Sara Alelia’s "diary" are included-the story is intensely interesting both as a family study and as a record of Hving and working conditions of which- we hear little--Publishers, Philip Allen. ‘The central figure of Sara Alelia is the most strangely-penned character this reviewer has encountered in recent novels. .There can be no denying the appeal of her self-imposed subjugation to the will of God, on to Whose mercy she throws herself early in the tale, when the hand of man would alone have driven her to suicide. But there is some inclination to lose sympathy with the growing woman, who, in spite of personal attractiveness and marital opportunities after the loss of her first husband, shuns all thought of the healthy physical. Her dedication of her life to the nurture and godly upbringing of her son at the early age at which misfortune overtakes her makes her virtually a great-hearted nun, This trait, however, in maturity and old age commands the admiration of those who read here of her unfailing devotion, not only to her son, but to all in distress. Yet even this unusual type is rivalled for strength of interest by that curious, sinister angel, Norenius.. Here, again, . is a famfly story interwoven with the other, but pitiful this time. This pastor’s fights with church authorities, gin, starvation and himself give one an impression of having met in the flesh this truly strange being. The snow country, the long summer days, the olden politics and ageless sins, the comparative savagery of the. Lappe’ inhumanity. the witchery of this northern country are pictured boldly by the writer, and every now and then throughout the saga of Sara Alelia, her son and her narticular grandson. there flit across these pages the shadow or sunshine of other vivid characters, particularly Filemon. Sahlen, Albin and the mercurial Lydia. Deft descriptions of scenes and emotions are provided with rare ability, for by suggesting Hildur Dixelius gives the reader as fine a picture of some occasions in half a dozen Ihes as a less cunning anthor would tn an unweildy nage. The hook is a breath of pure, erisp. snow-laden air in the weltear of this generation’s novels,