10 SEPTEMBER 1927, Page 28

Current Literature

NEW YORK IS NOT AMERICA. By Ford Madox Ford. (Duckworth. 8s. 6d.)—Then what is New York if it is not America ? The most delightful place after Provence, according to Mr. Ford, in which to moon about and do nothing. He is right. When Mr. Ford is amusing he is very amusing, as he has the unusual gift of making three jokes at once. But, unfortu- nately, he often falls far below his own level ; and when he is not amusing, his windedness must surely be the longest in the world. Some pages of this book have an inimitable sparkle ; others read almost as if he had hired a champion stenographer for the day and was determined to get his money's worth.