The Encounter. By Anne Douglas Sedgwick. (Edward Arnold. 6s.)—All the
praise which the publishers bestow on Miss Sedgwick's new novel is justified. It is quite true that she has the power of " dramatically interpreting an idea" : she has also, as we know from her earlier books, the gift of draw- ing a type; there is always in her work incomparable subtlety and the most minute care in the analysing of character. We must, therefore, lay aside our scepticism as to the possible existence of the three German "intellectuals" who influence the character of Persia, the almost incredible American girl. We must, and we will, believe in their possibility. But, having gone thus far, we may draw the line at making their acquaintance ; for the truth is that we find them all terribly boring with their philosophical discussions, and Miss Sedg- wick has scorned to pander to our weakness, and has allowed us no change of scenery, and only one emotional crisis. It is really a compliment to the writer's powers to say that we come to expect the appearance in the hotel garden of Ludwig or Sachs or Liidenstein, just as we dread the arrival of a dull visitor, and that we turn with infinite relief, when they are gone, to little Mrs. Fennamy, whose slightly bewildered attitude towards her daughter Persia is true and unintellectual and, above all, human.
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