"Unimportant" Novel That Had Grip

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 27, 16 December 1938, Page 16

"Unimportant" Novel That Had Grip

pst writers oi talent these days use up their energies writing ‘‘important’’ booksbooks with a message, books that expose rackets, or postulate obseure psychological dicta, or preach, or sneer, or moan. In a flood of "important" releases I have found one "unimportant" book. Strangely enough, that unimportant book comes nearer my eonception of lasting literature » than all the others, or all the good points of the others put together. John de Meyer has written "Village Tale" in a fashion long gone from shelves of contemporary books. Apparently he has written it for the love of creation, with utter-almost tricky-simplicity; and he has achieved something notable because he has ignored with @ grave, perhaps unconscious, courage the modes, situations, subjects, shibboleths and distortions upon which successful writing today so often depends. §¢\/ILLAGE TALE" is the story of Michael, son of a Maine village parson--and of the village. Its portraiture is remarkable and memorable because it is portraiture stripped of every. unessential; completely recognisable, typical. Admirers of. Plaubert and the Flaubert school will do well to read it. A book for atafents-rand epicures. -ANTAR. "Village Tale," by John de Meyer. Gollanez, London. Our copy from the pubtishers. ,