19–19852
The book shows us English society “snug and comfortable and stereotyped” in various aspects. First among the students and faculty of Cambridge where, in the former, the spirit of youth occasionally pierces through the stereotyped smugness doubly emphasized in the faculty. There we meet Robin Linnet, nicknamed “Birds,” a lovable boy, full of fun and horse-play with his chums, but fortified by a rare love and respect for his mother. The latter, Lady Grote—brilliant society woman, patroness of celebrities, shining center of an aristocratic coterie absorbed in “a fever of mere living, a determination to make the most of the present moment, whether bridge or scandal or games”—has for her saving quality her great and sane love for her son. The war-change that English society suffers, topples Lady Grote’s world over like a house of cards, when her son goes to France. She decides to superintend the Red cross hospital, into which her husband converts their country house, in person. When Robin is killed her spirit rises nobly to the occasion and what was a fill-gap and a duty now becomes a work of love.
“Full of bright and entertaining dialogue.”
+ Ath p1138 O 31 ’19 120w
“Parts of the book are so slow moving that some readers may not care to finish it.”
+ − Booklist 16:242 Ap ’20
“The action moves cumbrously; too much time wasted in irrelevant talk by superfluous characters. This tries the reader’s patience, and makes negligible a book which might have been one of Mr Benson’s most successful efforts.”
+ − Cath World 111:539 Jl ’20 210w
“The concluding pages of the book are beautifully written and very moving, making the whole worth while. It is a book practically devoid of even a slight thread of plot, and it is very much too long.” L. M. Field