BOOKS AND WRITERS
KEYNES was one of the great writers of our time. Unhappily there is a veil between the most of what he wrote and the reader innocent of economics, for he chose to devote his wonderful power to the exposition of ideas in his own special field. During his middle life he gathered together a number of articles and of extracts from his books into two volumes, Essays in Persuasion and Essays in Biography, for presentation to a larger public. Rupert Hart-Davis have republished these volumes, at
10s. 6d. and Its. 6d. respectively, adding three new pieces (on Stanley
Jevons, Newton, and Mr. Alfred Marshall) to the Essays in Biography. The reader is bound to feel regret that Keynes did not more often let his pen stray into fields within the layman's compre- hension. He was too hard pressed. An originator, a crusader for great causes, an anxious observer of passing events, he had enough and too much to say, in order to correct, persuade and prevent disas- trous blunders. Moreover, despite his great versatility and high competence in many subjects, he was at heart a professional economist with a sense of vocation and duty. Even in most of the biographies his primary concern is to place his subject correctly in the history of economic ideas.
His style is easy and lucid. He achieves a double effect, which is only within the reach of the finer masters, namely, a strong imprint of his own individuality and a sense that what he has said could not have been said better in any other way. He brings to his aid sparingly, but always effectively, surprising collocations or meta- phors. One has the sense that he has large resources of language in reserve, so that he will always be able to cope easily with the subtle or the sublime, when the occasion is ripe. His sense of fun is seldom absent for long ; it simmers below the surface of his words. Although he was modern in thought and feeling, his style is not modern ; it is contemporary and lively, without trace of archaism, stilted phrase or dead modes of expression, but it is traditional. In most modern writing there is a tendency to experiment with the language, to stretch its powers, invent new forms ; Keynes goes back to the traditional language, quite confident that he can find in that great treasure-house all that is needed to express the most modern twist and turn of idea.
In some of the biographies, notably that of Alfred Marshall, his teacher and for so long the doyen of British economists, he aims at presenting a full portrait and providing sufficient knowledge for posterity. in other cases he is content to seize certain aspects. In every case there is psychological depth. When confronted with an individual, Keynes at once saw things beneath the surface ; hr found a curious compound of emotions and purposes, a paradox, a mystery to be solved. Thus his account is almost always in the nature of an explanation ; first he has to convince the reader that there is some- thing rather odd to be explained, and then he gives the clue. Thus his narrative is an exciting adventure. One longs for more of this sort of thing. -
Economists may well prize most of all his brief account of F. Y. Edgeworth Exceedingly eminent in his profession, of international reputation, yet known only to the real scholars in each nation, he lived an apparently conventional life quietly in All Souls, Oxford ; he wrote a great many learned papers and that seemed the sum total of his life-work. Yet he was• indeed an amazing man. Keynes, seeing him seldom but corresponding frequently, normally' separated from him as Cambridge is from Oxford, diagnosed and ferreted out. He presents an extraordinarily vivid and beautiful and true picture of a strange soul.
Essays in Biography includes, along with the accounts of Wilson and Clemenceau that appeared in the Economic Consequences of the Peace, a rapid and breath-taking sketch of Lloyd George, which " a certain compunction " had made Keynes delete from the Conse- quences. This piece should certainly be restored to its proper place in any new edition of that volume. Its omission, although made with good reason at the time, has exposed Keynes to widespread criticism among historians for lack of historical judgement. Mr. Geoffrey Keynes, editor of this new edition of the Essays writes that " many of his friends feel that the book (Consequences) would have gained balance had he included it (the portrait of Lloyd George), but the executors do not feel justified in overriding his wishes." It is to be hoped that the executors will think again. 3. M. Keynes crossed the Rubicon and overcame his " compunc- tion" when he published the portrait fourteen years later (1933). That done, there is nothing to prevent its being restored to its right- ful place in the, original volume. I have no hesitation in saying that this would now be his emphatic wish. • Essays in Persuasion contain more of economics, but there are also some fascinating political essays. This volume also should be acceptable to the layman. The utmost is here achieved that can be achieved in making this subject, so important for every citizen, appetising. The history of the inter-war period is interpreted from an important point of view. In current politics there is much castigation—with an occasional attempt at defence—of our policies in that period ; some of the denunciation claims Keynes's authority; many, who recall that he was the most effective critic while the events were proceeding, are prepared to take these claims on trust, It is therefore well to look back and discover what he actually did say, so that one may judge whether he is being garbled. The reader will not always find precise consilience between the criticisms he made and current versions of them. Some hints for criticism of contemporary affairs may also be gleaned. The section dealing with Inflation and Deflation has greatest current relevance. Inflation we have with us ; Deflation may be round the corner.
Sometimes Keynes's indignation rises and finds expression in passionate utterance. More often it is clouded in masterly under. statement. Impishness and naughtiness keep the reader entertained from time to time.
" Sir Harry Goschen goes one better than Mr. Pease in a delightful passage which deserves to be quoted in full:- 1 cannot help thinking that there has been lately far too much irresponsible discussion as to the comparative advantages of Inflation and Deflation. Discussions of this kind can only breed suspicion in the minds of our neighbours as to whether we shall adopt either of these courses, and, if so, which. I think we had bette; let matters take their natural course Is it more appropriate to smile or rage at these artless sentiments? Best of all, perhaps, just to leave Sir Harry to take his natural course."
Later he proceeds
" Nor would it be fair to say that the spinsters" [vii the bankers in question] " are definitely opposed to these ideas. (There would be just as much impropriety for them, just as much mental agility required. to think one thing as to think another. Their simplicity is quite impartial.) It they could be led gently by the hand beyond their copy book maxims of ' looking facts firmly in the face' and ' economy and hard work.' it might be found that they, too, had no objection to a deliberate attempt to kelp prices steady ... and that, whilst they feel at first the same distaste towards any proposal to
• tamper • with 'the natural course' of prices as they might fed towards an attempt to settle the sex of a child before birth, they are not really prepared to insist on their instinctive preference."
The concluding essay concerns " Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren." Keynes claims that within two generations the economic pioblem may be solved. This judgement is to be taken literally. Humanity will, however, he fears, be dogged by those impulses that were socially needful and exalted into virtues in that long era in which life has been dominated 6y the economic struggle —the impulses of thrift and money-getting. He shows some dislike for these virtues and would be heartily glad to be able to dispense with the necessity for them. There is some paradox in this dislike, since as a person he was quite well endowed with both virtues. Here is a mystery of precisely the kind that he would have so delighted in unravelling. Alas, these possibilities of blissful ease, have been post- poned for a while by events that have occurred since 1930.
ROY HARROD.
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