20 JANUARY 1933, Page 33

LAST MEN IN LONDON

By Olaf W. Stapicdrn

It is difficult to understand the purpose of Mr. Stapledon's fantasia, Last Men in London (Methuen. 7s. 6d.), which is similar to his Last and First Men. His fancy is not his strongest point, being both crude and turgid, nor does his theme serve to display any particular brilliance of style. His chief quality, which may be considered a defect or a virtue, is a painstaking and didactic lucidity, and an extreme patience in making lists of the obvious. The fragments of human story which are interspersed with these lists and extravagances are not remarkable and are presented quite frankly in the style of what used to be called " object lessons."