Love—And A Swamp Forest

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 3, 24 July 1936, Page 24

Love—And A Swamp Forest

A NEW book worthy of note is "Strange Glory," by L. H. Myers. Although it is less than two hundred pages, the story is complete, nor does the brevity in any way curtail its depth and sincerity. This novel has a most unusual theme, with the power to envelop the reader and hold him spellbound while he follows the lives and ultimate destinies of three people. Paulina and Wentworth seem like puppets at first against the immensity of their background-a great swamp forest. Gradually. they emerge as separate entities, yet the forest remains throughout a conscious undertone. Paulina hesitates between two worlds-ancient and modern-nature or artifice. She takes the plunge and marries into the modern world. Her heart unawakened, she drifts unhappily hither and thither in a sea of trivialities, Wentworth is the strongest character in the book-he has chosen a hermit’s life, and thus made his home in the forest. During the many years spent almost entirely alone he has evolved a quiet philosophy and wisdom in tune with his surroundings. It is to this modern Socrates that Paulina brings her confidences and troubles, and through his influence she develops her. personality. Soon she meets Stephen, and they fall desperately in love with each other. Paulina, who has hitherto existed, now lives every moment, transformed by the immensity of her love. Complications arise, for, although Paulina is divorced, Stephen is married unhappily, but has a small son, Matthew, of whom he is very fond. They decide that he must go to Russia to hig wife and arrange for a divorce, Paulina is unable to travel with him, as Wentworth is slowly dying and is dependent on her nursing and sympathy. Wentworth dies a few months later, leaving Paulina free to go to Stephen in Russia, ' Before she can leave, a letter comes to say Stephen and his wife have died of typhus, but Matthew was alive and well. Paulina realises that she must go to Matthew. at once in order that he may depend on her,,and he in return will fill the sudden emptiness of her horizon;