THE MISTED MIRROR. By Henry Daniel-Raps. Trans- lated by It.
H. Mottram. (Seeker. 75. 6d.)—Although recently we have been given too many books that begin with stories of adolescents in a muddle, and go on to describe the psychology of young men who try to discover themselves through the medium of amatory adventures, nothing super- fluous will be found in M. Daniel-lops' novel, who has occupied himself with much the same theme. His hero, Eloise Orlier, breaks out of school at night, and is caught while he is returning. That is a common enough beginning, although Blaise's motive was not the usual one, but the sequel is extraordinary. What English head-master would suggest as did the Abbe Lemaire, that perhaps Blaise would "prefer to take the matter to the confessional rather than to treat it as from man to man or between master and pupil " ? What English schoolboy dare declare to another master that the Head dare not expel him because of honours gained in an examination ? Throughout the whole of this queer and beautiful book we read of ordinary situations that are followed by (to us) most startling results. We see a young Frenchman's attitude to life and women, to religion and his father, in new and yet clear perspective. As Mr. Mottram says in his pre- face : "If you have a friendly curiosity as to the real texture and build of French character . . . . if you find not a little extraordinary the fact that we do not easily grasp how the French arrive at their philosophy of life, this book may give you some clue to the solution of your perplexities."
Previous page
