THE REVOLUTION
By Eric Linklater In these three 'consecutive short stories, (The White Owl Press, 3s. 6d.) we have the brilliant improvisations of an accepted composer, resting or dallying between two more spacious works. The personalities described are a Russian dancer and the royal family and revolutionary leaders of a Ruritanian Kingdom in the throes of a post-war revolution. The tale is admirably told, and affords Mr. Linklater ample opportunity for satirical observation on the various trends of modern European politics. If the themes are slight, and the incidents and characters evanescent, there is genuine if shortlived entertainment in one or two of the ingeniously contrived situations, and in many flashes of shrewd political insight. Throughout all the stories one can never be in doubt of the essential humanity of Mr. Linklater as an • observer of human beings, and the virility of his sense of humour. The picture of the exiled monarch and his spouse leaving " 13altland " in the same train with the leader of - the Revolution and his Russian dancer is perhaps the most memorable.
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