CRAZY PAVEMENTS. By Beverley Nichols. (('ape. 7s. 6d.)-One might conceivably
(though one would hesitate to dO so) describe Mr. Beverley Nichols's new book as "a novel with a purpose," for he relates the adventures of a young journalist who is taken up, entertained and made love to by a very decadent section of London society ; until, weary of cocktails, cocaine and stale emotions, he turns once more to his good friend Walter, and to early morning bathes in the Serpen- tine. Mr. Beverley Nichols shares his choice of a theme with Dean Farrar and other recorders of the temptations of youth, but here the resemblance ends, for the present author is assisted by his sense of humour. If it were not for this humour and for certain brilliancies in the conversations it would be hard to bear with the overdrawn characters and the wearying descriptions of ladies' toilets. The novel is well4tamed, for never did young journalist tread on such a crazy paving as that bordering the gutter which Mr. Beverley Nichols de- scribes.
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