FROM STAR TO STAR
by Eric P. Kelly '06.J. B. Lippincott Company, 1944, 239 pages,$2.00.
Last year was celebrated the 400 th anniversary of the publication of Nicholas Copernicus' great and revolutionary work "The Revolution of the Heavenly Bodies." Eric Kelly has been studying the life of Copernicus and he plays a part in this excellent tale. The setting for the famous Disputatio at the University of Krakow is as authentic as research can make it. Here it may be said that Copernicus made his bow; fifty years later his great work appeared.
The author has chosen the year 1493 (as well as 1494) for his story. Roman, the son of a Polish nobleman, resolves to go to the University of Krakow against his father's stern wishes. How he does so, and of his adventures on the way and after he gets there, make up the substance of the tale. I confess that I read the book at a sitting, and enjoyed it immensely.
Eric Kelly is just about tops as a writer of interesting books for boys and girls. Perhaps, if my experience is usual, I could also say for men and women, too. Mr. Kelly succeeds just about perfectly, at least for the uninitiate, in reproducing the atmosphere, the physical sights and smells, of a great medieval seat of learning. His knowledge and research do not show through the firm, well-rounded story, but it is there, none the less. There are excellent notes at the end.
The author's deep and genuine love for Poland casts a warm aura over his story and he succeeds not only in interesting the reader but in arousing in him a warm feeling for Poland—of yesterday and today. Well illustrated by Manning Lee. Highly recommended to all.
