Labels, by Evelyn Waugh (Duckworth, 8s. Od.) is the descrip-
tion of a tour in the Mediterranean. Much of it was carried out in the cruise yacht ' Stella Polaris' which naturally offers Mr. Waugh plenty of opportunity for the kind of writing by which he has become known. In large doses this is rather fatiguing, although, or perhaps because, his wit is so unfailing, but there is much desultory art criticism which is vigorous and sincere, and some of the portraits and incidental essays are worth separate preservation. As he says himself, "all this feverish jumping from place to place would be justifiable if each excursion, besides providing one with different decorations, did actually bring with it a different atmosphere." By this reckoning the book was worth writing, though it is also a little difficult to distinguish between Mr. Waugh's decorations and his atmosphere.
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