– Sat. R. 101: 529. Ap. 28, ’06. 160w.
Benson, Edward Frederic. Paul. †$1.50. Lippincott.
Paul Norris and Norah Ravenscroft who had played together since childhood find that they love each other after Norah marries Theodore Beckwith, a mean-spirited shrivelled up specimen of mankind. Paul becomes Beckwith’s private secretary and incidentally is compelled to be a modern type of court fool, tho sacrificing none of his dignity and courage in playing an entertainer’s rôle to amuse a pagan, sensuous nature. Paul’s hatred for the man tempts him to run him down with a motor car, he repents at the last moment but too late to avert the tragedy. The second part of the story shows Paul’s remorse which would drown itself in drink, his conversion, his marriage with Norah, and his final reparation to a “calm, un-angry, inevitable justice” by saving the child of Theodore and Norah from certain death.
“An unpleasant laboured story.”
– Acad. 71: 398. O. 20, ’06. 150w.
“We are disposed to rank this novel as Mr. Benson’s best work accomplished since the public ear was captured by the specious cleverness of ‘Dodo.’”
+ + Ath. 1906, 2: 543. N. 3. 280w.
“The writing is hardly less slovenly and involved than usual, and, as usual, the minor characters are delightful.”
+ – Lond. Times. 5: 353. O. 19, ’06. 290w.