The full - story of the Nobile Relief Expedition is told for
the first time by - Davide :Giudici in The Tragedy of the Italia (Benn, 12s. 6d.). The author was in Berlin as correspondent of a leading Italian newspaper when he was suddenly ordered to join the relief expedition. He describes how for days on end the Krassin ' literally threw herself against a solid wall of ice, while the hundred and thirty-eight Unfortunate people on board tried to keep up their spirits. At last they found, first the survivors of the Malmgren party which had started out across- the Arctic wastes to get help, and later the party of the Red Tent, which had been stranded there for over sin weeks. With an 'almost overpowering mixture of Italian and journalese, he describes- the meeting between relievers and relieved, and finally he goes on to tell us of the further unsuccessful searches of the Krassin ' for the rest of the expedition. The fact that the book is by an Italian lends added' interest to it, for the Italian position was indeed curious, and we feel that it may have surprised many a humble citizen of Italy, fed on Fascist broth, to see how quickly the Bolshevik " murderers " came to the rescue of Italian explorers. The author himself seems to have found his Bolshevik companions extremely easy to get on with, and remarks that in deferenee to him no special celebrations were made' on the anniversary of the Revolution. It is touches such as this, describing life on the Krassin,' which are the most interesting part of the
book. * * * *
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