• Tms, the third in the Perspectives in Criticism series,
is, more nearly, a perspective in tech- nical matters. It comprises a modest account of the functions, techniques, devices and forms of streams-of-consciousness fiction and, as such, is an interesting and thorough piece of work. 'Stream-of-consciousness fiction,' says Mr, Humphrey, 'is essentially a technical feat. Its successful working out depended on tech- nical resources exceeding those of any other type of fiction.' Although a suspicion of 'mere virtuosity' keeps him away from the more dangerous implications of this, and although he doesn't (under the heading of 'Theoretical cyclical schemes') peddle the Viconian cycles too hard, his approach becomes a little obvious in some of its analyses (demonstrative rather than critical).
'In a sense,' says the author, 'this is a kind of manual of how to write stream-of-conscious- ness fiction,' a tip the blurb takes up in : CHARLES TOMLINSON
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