18 DECEMBER 1926, Page 29

NEIGHBOURS. By Claude Houghton. (Holden. 7s. 6d. net.)—If this novel

is not the work of a very young writer, precedents count for nothing. It is three-quarters talk— talk about Time and Space and Eternity, the meaning or meaninglessness of life, the wickedness of convention, the relative places of man and woman. It is very shocking. It is hopelessly unreal. The characters all speak as though they were intoxicated, and the book shows a youthful preoccupation with the subject of madness. Mr. Houghton has blown off a great blast of steam ; and has proved himself to possess considerable talent. It would be interesting to see him concentrate his attention on the world of people and happenings and try to write a novel which should appear true to life.