AN EXPERIMENT IN SINCERITY. By John Erskine. (Putnam. 7s. 6d.)—The
beginning of Mr. Erskine's latest novel is both interesting and original. Isabel and Winthrop have been married for some years and are quite comfortably settled. In a moment of vague discontent Isabel writes an article on " Sincerity," in which she complains of the cramped lives led by supposedly contented couples. This article is published pseudonymously, and is read by Winthrop, who professes to scorn it. Presently Isabel receives a great many letters written by readers of the essay, and among them one from her husband, who asks her to meet him at a restaurant. Isabel confides in her friend Mary, who at last consents to pose as the author of the essay, and meets Winthrop so that she may discover his feelings for Isabel. The result of this meeting is that Isabel's affection for her friend and love for her husband are temporarily wrecked, and the rest of the book describes the various attempts of these people to be sincere. Although the story is readable and interesting throughout, it does not really fulfil the promise of its beginning, and at the end the reader is left with the feeling that his curiosity has been kindled for no particular purpose. All the same, Mr. Erskine has sonic wise things to say about a great many human problems, and the provocative book which results from his exploration of delicate emotions has undoubted value.
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