Sensitive Youth Can Suffer In A Callous World

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 30, 6 January 1939, Page 12

Sensitive Youth Can Suffer In A Callous World

Delicate Handling Of An Old Story

NEW novel worth attention is "The Death of the Heart," by Blizabeth Bowen. The theme is not new; sensitive youth is once more painfully made aware of a callous adult world; but in its thoughtful characterisation and smooth writing this is a noteworthy piece of work. Miss Bowen’s i6-year-old heroine jis transplanted from a rather shady and shoddy hackground of cheap continental hotels and 'out-of-season watering places, where her sole companion has been a doting but dithering little widowed mother,-to the soulless elegance of her sister-in-law’s London house. Nobody, in the world wanted Portia Quayne. Anna, the sister-in-law, found a reproach to her own shallow, disappointed life;. Thomas, the brother, was embarrassed by a alf-sister so much younger than mself, atraid, too, that she might secretly be pitying him his lonely existence amid all the shiny perfection. There was a_ pitiful loveaffair with a neurotic young man, beautifully handled by Miss Bowen; a visit to the sea-

side to contact with some hearty young vulgarians who misinterpreted her every childlike remark; a clever cameo of an iron-bosomed elderly tousemaid who bestowed a grudging affection on Portia, as long as the child cared only for her; an honest, decent Major Bouitt, who sent her jigsaw puzzles, ‘thought her a "jolly little kid," -and was ridiculed by the suesnes as a woolly sentimentaist. Tt was to this solid person that Portia turned when her. gallery. of friends and relations set her little world upside down with .their insincerities; and with. dogged commonsense, the Major sent her back home. Youth exploited and ‘Jet down once again! Miss Bowen’s characters are cleareut and convincing, her Portia being a masterly piéce of sympathetic writing "The Death of the Heart" is the worthy choice of the Book

Societv for October.

A.R.

M.

[E"The Death of the Heart.’"’ Elizabeth Bowen. Victor Gollancz, London, Our copy from the publishers.]