19 NOVEMBER 1921, Page 22

FICTION.

The Young Enchanted. By Hugh Walpole. (Macmillan. ild. net.)—It is difficult to discover the exact reason why Mr. Walpole divides the works of fiction which he publishes into " Romances " and " Novels " ; still lees can we fathom his reasons for including certain books in one category and others in the other. Both The Dark Forest and The Secret City, which appear in the category of " Novels," are far more romantic -reading than -works -to -which Mr. Walpole accords this title. He labels his present book, The Young Enchanted, " Romance." and it is obviously meant to typify the " life urge " and sense of adventure felt by those fortunate beings who are young in this new world in which all pm-War values are upset and transformed. This is the note of many of the novelists -of to-day, but few of them combine it with such able character-drawing as does Mr. Walpole. His short-sighted, adventurous, untidy hero, Henry Trenchard, is a charming creation, far more attractive than the more practical Millie Trenchard, who is the heroine of the book. These young people, both emancipated members of a family to which Mr. Walpole has already introduced us, make their way in modern London—Henry with a chivalrous and disinterested passion for a Danish girl who has got into the hands of a woman of the streets, and Millie pursuing a love affair with an unworthy object, from whom she transfers her affections .almost as easily as did Romeo from Rosalind. It is impossible.to help feeling that the novel is rather spoilt by the last chapter, which describes in a manner.which. is irrelevant -the burial last year of the " Unknown Warrior." We know that gratitude and sacrifice were at the bottom of the pathos of the •ceremony, but the whole subject has been made the vehicle .of so much facile emotion that a feeling of the necessity of -restraint in art should have prevented Mr. Walpole from dragging it in to. make an effective,fisaie.