Difference between revisions of ".Mjkz.MjQzMA"
(Created page with "ARUNDEL. By KENNETH ROBERTS. New York: Doubleday, Doran. 1930. $2.50. Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec is the central episode . of this novel. Through the eyes of one Steven...") |
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York: Doubleday, Doran. 1930. $2.50. | York: Doubleday, Doran. 1930. $2.50. | ||
Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec is the | Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec is the | ||
− | central episode | + | central episode of this novel. Through the |
eyes of one Steven Nason, a lad from Maine, | eyes of one Steven Nason, a lad from Maine, | ||
we follow the expedition in its tortured, | we follow the expedition in its tortured, | ||
crawling progress up the Kennebec, across | crawling progress up the Kennebec, across | ||
− | the northern forests and swamps, and | + | the northern forests and swamps, and final-ly to the St. Lawrence. We see Arnold's |
− | long wait for the | + | long wait for the supporting forces of Gen-eral Montgomery , who is to come down |
the river from Montreal; and finally the | the river from Montreal; and finally the | ||
− | ruinous assault | + | ruinous assault on Quebec, New Year's Eve, |
− | + | 1775. These chapters are usually in the | |
− | best tradit | + | best tradit [?] of the historical novel--- |
− | + | imaginative[?] revealing[?], and convincing. The | |
− | account | + | account of[?] the unsuccessful storming of |
− | + | Quebec is especially[?] good, a pitiful story of | |
− | Quebec is | + | defeat. So much for the historical aspects |
− | defeat. | ||
− | |||
of "Arundel." | of "Arundel." | ||
The novel as a whole is an account of | The novel as a whole is an account of | ||
the boyhood, youth, and early maturity of | the boyhood, youth, and early maturity of | ||
this Steven Nason, whose home was the | this Steven Nason, whose home was the | ||
− | garrison house at Arundel, a tiny | + | garrison house at Arundel, a tiny settle-ment |
+ | on the Maine coast between Biddeford | ||
and Kittery. We learn the routine of the | and Kittery. We learn the routine of the | ||
Arundel days, come to understand the | Arundel days, come to understand the | ||
friendly Indians, get the characteristic feel | friendly Indians, get the characteristic feel | ||
of the countryside. The pages record sights, | of the countryside. The pages record sights, | ||
− | sounds, smells- | + | sounds, smells---things to eat, things to |
wear, ways of traveling, ways of fighting; | wear, ways of traveling, ways of fighting; | ||
− | the writing is realistic in that it is a | + | the writing is realistic in that it is a com- |
+ | prehensive catalogue of everyday life. Mr. | ||
Roberts with unflagging zest lays before | Roberts with unflagging zest lays before | ||
− | us the | + | us the minutiae of the colonists' casual af- |
+ | fairs, and he has humor, with a welcome | ||
spice of irony. Few historical novels give | spice of irony. Few historical novels give | ||
− | us as frequently as does " | + | us as frequently as does "Arundel" the il- |
− | lusion of living in | + | lusion of living in past time. As Steven |
− | Nason goes about his chores, or to | + | Nason goes about his chores, or to Cam- |
+ | bridge to see Washington, or through the | ||
horrors of the march to Quebec, we often | horrors of the march to Quebec, we often | ||
sense the eighteenth century as something | sense the eighteenth century as something | ||
− | actual and present. Against this background | + | actual and present. Against this background |
of social life and of history, there is a | of social life and of history, there is a | ||
personal narrative: the love affairs of young | personal narrative: the love affairs of young | ||
Nason, and the complicated doings of his | Nason, and the complicated doings of his | ||
friends. This, the story aspect of the book, | friends. This, the story aspect of the book, | ||
− | is good enough, though it is seldom | + | is good enough, though it is seldom defin- |
+ | itely interesting. | ||
There is only one thing the matter with | There is only one thing the matter with | ||
"Arundel," but that one thing is a rather | "Arundel," but that one thing is a rather | ||
Line 52: | Line 55: | ||
a third longer than "Kenilworth ," and four | a third longer than "Kenilworth ," and four | ||
fifths the length of "Vanity Fair." We look | fifths the length of "Vanity Fair." We look | ||
− | askance at such extensiveness these | + | askance at such extensiveness these days, |
especially when it seems to have been far | especially when it seems to have been far | ||
from necessary. | from necessary. | ||
− | + | Saturday Review of Literature | |
May 17, 1930 . | May 17, 1930 . | ||
� | � |
Latest revision as of 01:03, 27 March 2017
ARUNDEL. By KENNETH ROBERTS. New York: Doubleday, Doran. 1930. $2.50. Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec is the central episode of this novel. Through the eyes of one Steven Nason, a lad from Maine, we follow the expedition in its tortured, crawling progress up the Kennebec, across the northern forests and swamps, and final-ly to the St. Lawrence. We see Arnold's long wait for the supporting forces of Gen-eral Montgomery , who is to come down the river from Montreal; and finally the ruinous assault on Quebec, New Year's Eve, 1775. These chapters are usually in the best tradit [?] of the historical novel--- imaginative[?] revealing[?], and convincing. The account of[?] the unsuccessful storming of Quebec is especially[?] good, a pitiful story of defeat. So much for the historical aspects of "Arundel." The novel as a whole is an account of the boyhood, youth, and early maturity of this Steven Nason, whose home was the garrison house at Arundel, a tiny settle-ment on the Maine coast between Biddeford and Kittery. We learn the routine of the Arundel days, come to understand the friendly Indians, get the characteristic feel of the countryside. The pages record sights, sounds, smells---things to eat, things to wear, ways of traveling, ways of fighting; the writing is realistic in that it is a com- prehensive catalogue of everyday life. Mr. Roberts with unflagging zest lays before us the minutiae of the colonists' casual af- fairs, and he has humor, with a welcome spice of irony. Few historical novels give us as frequently as does "Arundel" the il- lusion of living in past time. As Steven Nason goes about his chores, or to Cam- bridge to see Washington, or through the horrors of the march to Quebec, we often sense the eighteenth century as something actual and present. Against this background of social life and of history, there is a personal narrative: the love affairs of young Nason, and the complicated doings of his friends. This, the story aspect of the book, is good enough, though it is seldom defin- itely interesting. There is only one thing the matter with "Arundel," but that one thing is a rather serious error of judgment. The novel is much too long. It lolls and expands in unbuttoned ease, and is apparently quite innocent of the blue pencil. It is almost a third longer than "Kenilworth ," and four fifths the length of "Vanity Fair." We look askance at such extensiveness these days, especially when it seems to have been far from necessary.
Saturday Review of Literature May 17, 1930 .
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