“Altogether the novel is a strong piece of writing.”
+ Outlook 126:558 N 24 ’20 70w
“Taken all in all, it’s a story that moves rapidly and with a lift straight to the end.” L. M. Harbeson
+ Pub W 98:660 S 18 ’20 280w
SINCLAIR, MAY. Romantic. *$2 (4c) Macmillan
20–18389
This story of the first weeks of the war in Belgium is a psychological study of cowardice. At the opening of the story Charlotte Redhead has just broken off an episodic love affair with Gibson Herbert, her employer. The qualities that attract her in John Conway are his apparent cleanness and strength. The two work together as farm laborers for a year, maintaining a very satisfactory relationship on platonic terms. With the beginning of the war they go out, in company with two others, as an ambulance corps. And here under danger Charlotte sees John go to pieces. He welcomes the idea of danger and death, but turns tail at the reality, and at the same time develops a strain of cruelty. Charlotte gives in to the truth slowly and it is only after he has been killed, when a psycho-analytic doctor gives her the key, that she comes to understand, and so forgive, his weakness.
“It is not possible to doubt the sincerity of Miss Sinclair’s intentions. She is a devoted writer of established reputation. What we do deplore is that she has allowed her love of writing to suffer the eclipse of psycho-analysis.” K. M.
− + Ath p552 O 22 ’20 860w