FICTION.
THE VALLEY OF INDECISION.*
The Valley of Indecision is in many ways a very remarkable book—remarkable especially for the fact that the author has chosen as the subject of his novel a religious conversion. Miss Sheila Kaye-Smith in Green Apple Harvest dealt with the same phenomenon, but in The Valley of Indecision the hero, instead of being an illiterate village buck, is a young officer of the beau- monde. The author shirks none of the consequences of an affair which the reader will at first blush be inclined to regard as odd as did Peter's neighbours and relations. He contrives to convince us that Peter is neither a prig nor a fanatic. Peter's literal interpretations of Christianity and his dedication of himself to religion in consequence of a vow he has made at the Front in a moment of great peril indeed seem more reasonable than the worldly and commonplace arguments with which his relations oppose him. Very well conveyed is the sense that in Peter's preachings of the Kingdom of God he was by no means sure what he was driving at, or what he wanted people to do. His attitude was negative. What perhaps is most curious of all about the book is that with this deeply serious subject it is extremely light reading. There is an admirable description of the running of an old curiosity shop by a very competent Squiress and some exceedingly well-drawn minor characters—the Squiress's competent brother, the General, the rich Lady Mayne Chance's pretty daughters, the Solitary who is Peter's adviser and helper.
Unfortunately, the book breaks off short just as Peter's real ministry was going to begin, and we are still left in doubt as to whether he was going to make anything of his crusade, his trudging over England preaching the Gospel of Christ. We hope • The Valley of Indecision. By Clnistoplier Stone. London: Collins. Ps.]
that this sudden breaking-off portends a sequel, though the difficulties of handling the theme beyond the point at which the author has left his hero will be extreme.
Previous page
