Suggestions

THE BEST MODERN fiction I have read for many months is contained in Katherine Anne Porter's Pale Horse, Pale Rider, published by Harcourt, Brace and Company. The title story deals with the influenza epidemic of 1918 and the horror of that plague rises like an impenetrable mist from every page of her narrative. "Old Mortality," the first short novel in the book, must be one of the finest stories in American literature. This is a book for the collector who reads his books; for anyone interested in the finest writing being done today. I have written of her first book Flowering Judas here before.

The Land Is Bright, by Archie Binns (Scribners) deals with some of those who sought Oregon round the middle of the last century. Not as good, to me, as Lightship, but good enough for your attention. (See also The Oregon Trail in The American Guide Series.)

Bitter Creek, by James Boyd (Scribners) is an historical novel dealing with Montana. Worth reading.

Captain Horatio Hornblower, by C. S. Forester (Little, Brown) is a trilogy of novels, published separately during the last three or four years, concerning the exploits of a nineteenth century English sea captain. The battle scenes are exceedingly well done, and it is to be hoped that Forester's work will now be known to a wider American audience.

Journey to a War, by Auden and Isherwood (Faber and Faber, London, and Random House, New York) tells of a visit to China commissioned by their publishers during 1938, and of what they saw there, which is probably similar to what you would see there if you went.

Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens. Contains the incomparable Pecksniffe, whose acquaintance is worth renewing.