The story revolves about the faculty and directors of a provincial commercial college. Lady Rossiter, wife of one of the directors, is an officious person who dispenses sweetness and light in theory and in practice spreads malicious gossip. An incident in the early life of Pauline Marchrose, who come to the college as superintendent, is so magnified that the girl is forced to resign her position. She has been greatly attracted to Mark Easter, a man of charming personality without force of character, and her leaving the college has all the elements of defeat with a shattered ideal added, but an unexpected turn is given to the story by Fairfax Fuller, principal of the college, and in Lady Rossiter’s opinion, a misogynist.
“A convincing personality but not a satisfying plot.”
+ − Booklist 17:115 D ’20
“The interplay between two temperaments is one of the most searching things in recent fiction. But, indeed, Miss Delafield is very rich in creative vigor.”
+ Nation 111:568 N 17 ’20 410w
“The end is abrupt, and may be unsatisfactory to those who read ‘Tension’ for any other reason than to watch Miss Delafield pillory objectionable characters. This she does most competently to Lady Rossiter, to a simpering young authoress, and to two dreadful children, but the nice people, it must be admitted, leave very little impression.” S. T.
+ − New Repub 24:246 N 3 ’20 540w
“‘Tension’ has got scarcely anything to recommend it. The story may be life, but it is altogether too drab and uninteresting for fiction.”
− N Y Evening Post p22 O 23 ’20 140w + Outlook 126:600 D 1 ’20 60w