More Books of the Week (Continued from page 632)
* * * *
In Letters from Italy (Besant and. Co., as. 6d.) Mr- Karel Capek has given us another entertaining volume of impressions. His pictures are drawn with an engaging humour, in spite of :the fact that one may sometimes entirely disagree with them. For though he laughs, he is never malicious, and through his half sarcastic condemnation emerges a clear picture. This is no book for the earnest and sentimental tourist, but for those who have already visited Italy there is much to interest them and arouse them to argument. He has an acute observation of detail and a very human interest in all he sees of the people he comes across. But whatever he admires he is careful never to let you forget that his own country has much to offer which is only to be found there ; and this touch of nationalism gives a distinct if somewhat ingenuous piquancy to his writing. He gives one the impression of a love of mosaic, detestation of Baroque and dislike of all the established admirations of Italy. If he is at times rather self-conscious of his acute observation, his book has an 'original flavour.
Previous page
