6 SEPTEMBER 1969, page 20

New Novels

Tellers all MAURICE CAPITANCHIK An Absence Uwe Johnson translated by Richard and Clara Winston (Cape Editions 6s) Elegy for a Revolutionary C. J. Driver (Faber 30s) Dry Mass......

Short Commons

SHIVA NAIPAUL Chinese Civilisation: An Introduction Werner Eichhom (Faber 65s) A general introductory book such as this was probably much easier to write about thirty years ago......