LOVE'S CREATION. By Marie Carmichael. (Bale and Danielsson. 7s. 6d.)—This
is an oddly old-fashioned novel, written in a fluent old-fashioned style. Traces of Dr. Marie Stopes the palaeontologist appear in the account of the researches of Dr. Kenneth Harvey, the hero ; and touches of Dr. Marie Stopes the marriage-reformer affect the description of Rose Amber's second husband. But, except for the chapter called " The Greater Unit," in which Kenneth rather laboriously develops his new theory of the universe, it is a simple story of three weddings and two sudden deaths. Lilian Rullford and Rose Amber her sister have lost " the stately home of their childhood and their devoted and gracious parents." Lilian goes to college to work under Kenneth, falls in love, and marries him. Soon after she is killed in bicycling. Kenneth goes off exploring, finding his only consolation in writing long letters to Rose Amber. She meanwhile has married Sir L-Harry Granville, who loves her too passionately. He accidentally steps off a cliff ; and Rose Amber is taken to Switzerland by Kenneth's mother who, of course, sees another perfect marriage ready for him. It is all very artless, and full of enthusiastic love scenes. But is it possible that Mrs. Harvey said to the maid who left a thumb-print on the silver decorating the table prepared for her son and his betrothed : " Take it away and clean it. . . . The meal is symbolic"
Previous page
