15 NOVEMBER 1930, Page 22

Although War books and War novels may continue to appear

at intervals for the next thirty years (and thegreat War novel has yet to be written—by Mr. Priestley perhaps I), the literature of escape is definitely limited, and in a class by itself. Lord Philliznore's Recollections of a Prisoner of War (Arnold, 10s. Od.) is full of excitement, for he made numerous attempts to elude his captors, all of them unfortunately unsuccessful ; but its merit lies not only in its adventure, but in the atmosphere he creates of that curious world of war prisons. One can see the man, his comrades, his surroundings, one lives with him through exploits which would have become famous had they belonged to a less heroic age ; and at the end of his story the reader has a far truer picture of the thoughts and feelings of both Germans and British during the War years than any long psychological analyses could have given him. This is a very sincere and interesting story, told with more art than is superficially apparent. * * * *