20–19050
“The story which it tells is the story of a conflict between modern men and the ancient pagan forces, the ‘old gods’ who from prehistoric times have dominated the lonely Welsh valley in which the action is laid. This conflict manifests itself at once physically and spiritually. Physically, in the endless series of accidents which befall those engaged in building the great dam that is to restrain the waters of the Dulas; spiritually, in their effect upon the characters and souls of Forsyth, the young engineer with whose coming to take charge of the work on the dam the book begins, and his predecessor, Carlyon, the dead man whose diary and whose influence form important parts of the narrative.”—N Y Times
“As a short story, it would be a decided success, as a long one it is overelaborated.” C. K. H.
+ − Boston Transcript p7 N 17 ’20 370w
“‘Undergrowth’ is a novel of atmosphere. Characters and incidents alike are of value to Mr Young only as they can help to make more vivid the picture he is painting of the rugged, fear-inspiring mountains of South Wales.” D. L. M.
+ Freeman 2:165 O 27 ’20 150w
“We wonder whether lack of conciseness, rather than any lack in imagination or expression, is not the great rift in this book. And at the last the imagination slips the noose. The book becomes hysterical.”
+ − N Y Evening Post p19 O 23 ’20 460w
“The book is interesting, dramatic at times, and full of a strange, compelling beauty.”