MARCEL PROUST AND HIS FRENCH

CRITICS, by D. W. Alden '33. Lymanhouse,Los Angeles. 259 pages.

D R. ALDEN CONCLUDES his book with the statement that a definitive study on Proust remains to be done. When and if such a work does appear, its author must be greatly ►lndebted to Dr. Alden for this digest of the Inass of critical material that has been written concerning Proust and especially for the splendid bibliography of Proustian studies Bhat he has compiled.

Dr. Alden has wisely refrained from passing judgment on the works of the critics he cites. More than half of the items on his list w'ere written before their authors had read 'A la recherche du Temps Perdu" in its entirety, that is to say, before they could have any concept of Proust's purpose or even of the true import of as much of the book as they had read. Since this amazing novel, some million and a quarter words long, is one tightly constructed "demonstration" in which fl every element is precisely keyed to the final 1 Q. E. D., to have attempted to evaluate such criticisms would have been a thankless task.

It is particularly interesting, in view of contemporary events, to note the direction from "I which as much of the criticism as is adverse sprung. Setting aside the chorus of yelps from those whose hides Proust had flayed, we find that the majority of Proust adversaries were hi either Fascist or old-line Communists (though the latter, as the book has been more widely read, have tended to revise their opinion on discovering that Proust's social consciousness is as pronounced as their own). To Catholic writers, Proust's faith in man's native goodness and ability to work out his own indiVidual salvation was repugnant. At times Dr. Alden seems to attach too much importance to the very localized "disrepute" which Proust emjoys in the eyes of these chapels. To share with most of the other great figures in the arts the disapprobation of such people as Radek, the ignoble Tharaud brothers, Massis and andre Germain, is an enviable distinction, putty-balls they throw are apt to pass unnoticed by the increasing number of readers to whom this great novel, "radiant with faith and youth," as Edmond Jaloux gives an inestimable worth to life, to nature, to labor and to beauty."

MAKE YOUR PICTURES SING, by Paul Hexter '25. Camera Craft Technique. 1940 188 pp. $3.00.

To be master of your camera, to devote more thought on creating is the purpose of this book

In his book, Mr. Hexter has done photpgraphy a good turn. The series of experimems outlined is a firm foundation for anyone photographic interests to rest on.

Starting with equipment, Mr. Hexter give excellent advice on its selection. His chapter might knock some wind out of super fast well corrected Bullasstigmat lens and vocates; his analysis on lenses is sound how ever.