Europe — An Underestimate?
Portrait of Europe. By Salvador de Madariaga. (Hollis & Carter. 18s.) IN the last fifteen years the English have thought, written and talked more about Europe than ever before in their history. Histories, guide-books, translations, surveys of European literature, introductions to European philosophy, reproductions of European art have crowded the booksellers' tables. The theme of Sefior de Madariaga 's new book is well-chosen to catch this newly-awakened interest, for the fascination of Europe lies much more in its variety than in its unity, and he has brought together all her peoples, from the French and the Russians to the Irish, the Swiss and the Portuguese, in a single portrait-gallery. Unfortunately, the promise of the title is poorly fulfilled. The book reads like a brilliant conversation, the incandescent quality of which has disappeared overnight and which has lost the power to bewitch when written down in the cold light of day. The wit, the charm, the variety of gesture and accent with which Serior de Madariaga summons up his originals in talking do not survive the translation to the printed page ; fantasy turns to whimsicality, the invention becomes laboured, the anecdotes have to be spelled out.
There are many shrewd remarks, such as the comparison of the relationship between the French and the Germans with that between the Germans and the Russians. The Italian attitude towards the French, and the German towards the English, are neatly analysed, and this part of the book—" European Tensions "—is more con- vincing than the rest. Towards the end even the author's zest begins to flag, and the later chapters are caricature rather than portrait-painting. For all his enthusiasm, Serior de Madariaga has underestimated his subject ; the greatness of Europe deserves
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