HALF A SOVEREIGN. By Ian Hay. (Hodder and Stoughton. 7s.
6d.)—A light-hearted account, not quite up to Mr. Hay's best, of a love story, a yachting trip in the Mediterranean, and a ghostly adventure obviously intended to be farcical. The pains and difficulties of being amiable with one's fellow-travellers has never been more vividly re- vealed, and the hero's plight provides much innocent amuse- ment. One of the guests on the yacht insists on teaching the others Morris dances. Another is a boasting fool. One of the young girls Ims a chronic cold, a distressing sense of humour, and as she is a persistent fisherman is always bedraggled and laden with unpleasant bait. There are also a mischief-maker, a tiresome flirt, some bridge fiends and a host who makes everyone's life a burden with his schedules, time-tables, drills and general efficiency campaign. Apparitions and wonders are necessary to cure them of their worst traits, and to bring about an engagement between the narrator and a lovely but nebulous lady.
Previous page
