5 SEPTEMBER 1925, Page 30

OTHER NOVELS

This Mad Ideal. By Floyd Dell. (John Lane. 7s. 6d. net.) The heroine of this American story declines to marry either of her lovers in order that they and she may develop their artistic and literary proclivities. An object lesson as to the futility of this proceeding is provided by a most able little portrait of an old maid who, attaining her ambition of becom- ing a revolting daughter, works on a newspaper, and finds that the end of her hopeful beginnings consists in writing short paragraphs about dances and card parties. The book is interesting, and the heroine should serve as a useful warning to all young people not to be afraid of life.