“Major Douglas knows his difficult subject from end to end. If the fates had blessed him with the gift of clear exposition we might have had here a volume of note. When he determines to keep clear from terms which demand explanations, and concentrates on clarifying his message of social regeneration, those who pay lip service to formal political democracy will find in him a telling recruit to the growing band of thinkers who deny the name of democracy to any system not based upon economic freedom.”
+ − Nation [London] 27:184 My 8 ’20 800w
“This small book offers much room for controversy both as to its technical analysis of the effects of current accounting and credit practices and as to the feasibility of remedies advocated. The ground for controversy is widened by the author’s unfortunately vague and sometimes bombastic style.” E. R. Burton
+ − Survey 44:541 Jl 17 ’20 280w
DOUGLAS, OLIVE ELEANOR (CONSTANCE) (LADY ALFRED DOUGLAS). Penny plain. *$1.90 Doran
A story of a quiet little Scottish town. Priorsford is the home of a number of quaint and interesting people. Here Jean Jardine lives with her two brothers and “the Mhor,” Gaelic for “the great one,” the pretentious name given to a little boy of seven. Into this placid atmosphere comes the Honourable Miss Pamela Reston, who is tired of London life. The story tells of how she fits into Priorsford society and how she and Jean become fast friends, and there is much description of tea-parties and country social life. Then comes an unexpected legacy for kind-hearted little Jean and romance, too, appears in the person of Pam’s younger brother. Pam herself finds the fulfilment of a hope of twenty years’ standing which has kept her single all this long time. The title comes from the dialogue of the shopman and the small boy: the shopman saying “You may have your choice—penny plain or twopence coloured.” the small boy choosing the penny plain, as “better value for the money.”
“A pleasant book to read. But we cannot help thinking it would be pleasanter still without the perfunctory introduction of a loveinterest, and of other irrelevances considered more or less indispensable in fiction.”
+ − Ath p244 Ag 20 ’20 120w
“The children make the book, especially Gervase and his dog. It is worth reading for them alone.” I. W. L.