OTHER RECENT BOOKS
'I LOOKED round the Harringay course and scrutinised the teams. They were mostly men. At that moment there came a sudden glow of determination that no man should beat me that day.' This is typical of Pat Smythe, for whether it is an international jumping competition, acting as an amateur matador in a Spanish bullring, or merely smoking a cigar, she cannot resist a challenge. Here is her success story, and if it was not supported by record books and the evidence of our eyes it would be almost incredible. Those who know how hard it is to win the jumping competition at their local show will sit back and let the descriptions of victory after victory in the highest international class roll over their bowed heads. And all achieved with very little capital, and with by no means always the best of luck.
' Miss Smythe is the latest to show us that If you want to do something enough you will do it in the end whatever the obstacles nuty be. Her narrative conveys very ade- quately her determination and her thorough- ness, her 'ups' and her 'downs', her compe- tence and her shrewdness, and luckily fame has not deprived her of the ability to laugh ttt herself. The travel descriptions are less well done and are not for the sophisticated but the young and those who like a readable success story without any literary pretensions will enjoy the whole book.
C. H. B.
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