15 DECEMBER 1928, Page 29

THE. SHATTERED HARP. By Howard Gordon-Page. (Rivers. 7s. 6d.)—One by

one, famous historical figures are being chosen as heroes for fiction. It is now Lord Byron's turn. Byron's life is certainly rich enough in the elements of romance and tragedy. But Mr. -Gordon-Page proves once again how difficult it is to weave a successful novel around so familiar a character. It is not that he lacks gifts He knows

his subject and his period intimately, and many of his descrip- tive passages have imagination and charm. But the dialogue fails to convince, and the whole theme is handled with an excess of sentiment.