“Despite his delicious drolleries, Mr Leacock’s book of verbal cartoons contains an amazing amount of truthful criticism—doubly effective because its form and oblique method of delivery rob it of all malice.”
+ N Y Times p11 D 19 ’20 670w
“A book of parodies which is as amusing as the first series. ‘Winsome Winnie’ and ‘Who do you think did it?’ are as good as any of the sketches which Professor Leacock has ever written.” E. L. Pearson
+ Review 3:558 D 8 ’20 540w
“It will be a very superior person who does not laugh the first time he reads Mr Leacock’s version of these jocular subjects. But as the laugh comes from the verbal surprise or from the technical improvement in an established joke, it is not likely to be repeated.”
+ − The Times [London] Lit Sup p795 D 2 ’20 600w
LEADBITTER, ERIC. Rain before seven. *$2 (2c) Jacobs
20–9473
Michael Lawson was an awkward, shy and colorless youth, the fourth and youngest in a family of waning fortunes. As a gawky boy of fifteen he falls in love with the daughter of his tutor, Vicar Hargrieves. Some years later, Isobel’s heartless flirtations give him his first deep emotional experience. At school he discovers his love and talent for music and finds a patron who finances his musical education. But funds fail before he has launched upon a career, and he is reduced to playing in a picture-drome. He meets with a succession of failures and becomes a tramp. As such he is discovered by his sister Rosie—his family having been ignorant of his whereabouts for years. His brother, a successful scientist and inventor, takes him on in business. Michael makes good, drops music altogether, achieves tranquillity of heart and wins the love of a dear quiet girl, who had adored him even as a child.