17 NOVEMBER 1923, Page 37

.TOYS. By the Ranee of Sarawak. (John Murray. 7s. 6d.)

From a literary point of view this is a good book. The terseness of the writer's English leaves nothing to be desired, and she knows how to give an Eastern atmosphere without enumerating details. When we have said this we have said all there is to say in its favour. The story, or rather the three stories (three incarnations of one soul), are depressing and cynical. It is difficult to read them without anger—impossible to read them without interest.