FINE MATERIAL, BUT TOO MUCH OF IT

Radio Record, 20 May 1938, Page 34

FINE MATERIAL, BUT TOO MUCH OF IT

ALTHOUGH Theun de Vries’s ‘third novel has been published in the English translation under the title of ‘Son of Rembrandt," it might. just as reasonably have held to the original Dutch, "Rembrandt" -or, for that matter, ‘Daughter of Rembrandt" or "Friend of Rembrandt." The truth is, this book contains the skeleton of about five novels ali squeezed into one body. That constructive weakness is likely to damn its chances of popularity, despite much in it that is stimulating. skilful and even beautiful. Nevertheless, for the smal] section of the reading public which is genuinely interested in art and artists. "Son of Rembrandt" is a novel not fo be overlooked. For it has a quality of almost passionate sincerity thai crips attention. One cannot escape the absurd feeling that this book would probably have been written whether or not there was prospect of a market; it echoes so strongly the author's intense absorption in his subject. There is no need of the information on the dust cover that Mr. de Yries developed an early passion for painting, that he has written a book of verse and worked in a library before he turned journalist. The care and feeling with which he has. drawn tbe figure of the great Rembrandt, the detailed analysis of the changes in the master’s style and mood of painting, the colour and reality of the deseriptive passages through the book--all these things reveal the fire of interest which must have made de Vries take artist Rembrandt of all men for his hero. The early chapters that deal with the famous painter's career and love story--filmgoers will see the Langhton yersion clearly here-are by far the best in the book, strong both in character delineation and in = atmosphere. Interests flags when the limelight shifts from Rembrandt himself fo his somewhat pale and sexless son; from Titus to the strangely unbalanced Magdalena van Loo, who courted: him: thence to his friend Jan Swammerdam. the brilliant anatomist whose life was wrecked by an abortive love affair; finally to Rembrandt’s daughter Cornelia, who is so much beter foundation for a novel than her brother, but who is so suminarily dismissed. Only when the ageing. Rembrandt re turns to the scene is the strength of the first chapters half recaptured. It is a pity that the fine material and en thusiasm of the book should have been so largely discounted by the author’s unwillingness or inability to prune, . "Son of Rembrandt," by Tkeun de (Harrap and Co., Ltd., London), Our copy from the publishers.