4 JANUARY 1930, Page 34

Undeniably clever as is Mr. Ralph Barton's God's Country (Knopf,

10s. 6d.) this comic history of the United States by the illustrator of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes has too strong and bitter a flavour to be to the taste of English readers. A Swift may mix poisons and do us good, but not Mr. Barton. His blasphemy is crude.