OUT OF CHILDHOOD. By Irina Odovtzeva. Translated and illustrated by
Donis Nachsen. (Constable. 12s. 6d.)— We have, in this story of a Russian child's adolescence, the sort of book that a baffled, though wily, reader might describe as significant in the hope that he would not be asked the question, " Significant of what ? " There is, I am sure, some significance about the two " black wings " of the window curtains, that flutter by Louka's bed, on the night when she first " grows up." Black wings are constantly - referred to. When Louka hangs her kitten, she is aware of the Black Wings of the Angel of Death. When she is in love with Arsenin, who happens to love her sister, she believes that she is visited at night by a being with black wings. When she and Arsenin have caused her sister's death and are standing by the bier, she looks at him, and—" In his hands are roses: And behind his shoulders enormous black wings." In fairness to the author, it must be said that the horrid little character of Louka is well drawn, and that the book is quite understandable in some places. It is also very. suggestive, very emotional and very jerkily written. The author has an irritating habit of changing her tenses in the middle of the Most purple passages. The illustrations exactly match the text in their ludicrous modernity.
Previous page
