28 DECEMBER 1929, Page 25

Mr. Peter Quennell, in his new critical volume, Baudelaire and

the Symbolists (Chatto and Windus. - 7s. 6d.), writes in an artificial and clumsy style ; not beyond suspicion of " Came- the-Dawnishness." It is none the less a valuable series of studies ; for here within a single cover are portraits of eight French poets whose work has deeply influenced modern literature ; and the high colour and strain of Mr. Quennell's style does not deprive him of delicacy of discrimination and interpretation.

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