17 MAY 1957, Page 23

A French Doctor in the Yemen, by Claudia Fayein (Hale,

21 s.) : just what the title says, the doctor being female and endowed with the yelp- ing sort of enthusiasm that is the French equiva- lent of St. Triniab's. The Queen of Sheba's country now seems sadly drab, but Dr. Fayein has some moderately interesting things to say about harem life and the position of women. Un- attractively presented, though, and in a dis- heartening translation, with dull photographs to enhance the generally monochromatic effect.