20–4439
The author is an Armenian who has dropped his real name for a more pronounceable signature. The book consists of a series of “self-conscious” essays wherein the author under the guise of reminiscences discourses on men and writers, women and love, on death, friendship and modes of living. It is a book of moods also and the writer fits in the subject or person to fit the mood. The chapter vignettes are from drawings by Michel Sevier.
“The chief merit of the book is that the author has taken great pains with his style, which is considerably more attractive than the substance of the book.”
+ − Ath p94 Ja 16 ’20 70w
“Set forth with a cynical humor which narrowly escapes brilliance, much of the narration is downright fascinating.”
+ N Y Times 25:27 Jl 18 ’20 350w
“A curious introspective fragment of a story told in a succession of spasms of introspection. It suffers from its form, but as it was evidently written for occasional serial publication, that could not be avoided. The book and its illustrations have a certain charm.”
+ − Sat R 129:336 Ap 3 ’20 50w
“It is difficult exactly to understand the ‘challenge’ of this book or what the writer meant to do with it. There is undoubtedly a fascination hard to analyse about the book and the personality revealed in it.”