Hanover Browsing

is George F. Kennan's American Diplomacy, 1900-1950 (University of Chicago Press) has been widely commented on and reviewed, I shall only say here that I hope you will read it. Kennan is unquestionably one of the most astute of our foreign policy people, knows what he is talking about (rather a rare thing these days), and his views are well worth pondering over. The two magazine articles tacked on to the book to give it volume detract rather than add to its quality. I will feel a little easier when Kennan returns to the State Department.

One of the great experiences of my life was a close and most pleasant association with the late John Sloan in Hanover this past summer. Had he never touched an artist's brush he would have been a great man; I agree with the late W. H. Hudson that a man is more important than his work. Sloan radiated something indescribable ... a massive simplicity such as Gulliver was seeking in the land of the Houhynhynhms, an integrity of epic proportion, a sense of humor, a kindness, and an enthusiasm for painting which at eighty seemed to me to be astounding. If he couldn't paint six to eight hours every day he was not entirely happy. Before me I have his book Gist of Art, his "Prin- ciples and Practise Expounded in the Classroom and Studio," recorded with the assistance of Helen Farr, filled with wise sayings and excellent advice. Altogether the book will prove of real help to any painter. Helen Farr became his wife in 1944, and is a fine painter in her own right.

In this country we are very apt to overpraise our fiction, and if the reviewers dare to say something is not good, they lay themselves open to violent, and often anonymous, attack, which I have experienced myself. So it is gratifying to come across a really well-written and shrewd novel. I refer to C. P. Snow's latest volume in the life of Lewis Eliot (last seen in Time of Hope) called The Masters, and as I write not yet published here. It tells of English university intrigue (a Cambridge college) when the Master of a college is dying and factions set themselves up to choose his successor. It is a brilliant analysis of the motives and political maneuvers of men, and after a short time the forthcoming election of the new Master becomes as important as the election of a new President or Prime Minister (I am aware that the P.M. is not elected). Those who have any knowledge of the politics and jealousies, of the envy and back-biting which goes on in college circles, will find this book a kind of sardonic delight. All others will enjoy its subtlety and high comedy. Highly recommended.

Senator Mike Monroney, for whom I have great admiration and respect, both for his savvy and his honesty, kindly sent me an inscribed copy of Omar Bradley's A Soldier's Story. It is unfortunate that before we can read this book in a leisurely fashion, considering its angles in one way or another, we have to be ever conscious of the war going on at present. But I am reading it slowly and carefully, and am finding it exceedingly interesting.

If you like fine printing, or are interested in the graphic arts in general, I can recommend a book from England called The Art of the Book by Charles Ede. It consists of a lot of articles by experts on "some record of work carried out in Europe and the United States from 1939 to 1950," in type design and lettering, printing the text, illustration and graphic reproduction, commercial binding, and finally hand binding. There are certain sections that are unduly short, but on the whole it is a worthy book.

I have been re-reading Trollope in the new Folio Edition: Mary Gresley andOther Stories. The stories vary widely in mood and setting, and the book is delightfully and expertly illustrated with woodcuts by Joan Hassall, who is eminently worth collecting. The books she illustrates have been, without exception, welcome additions to any library.