Books: Old Russia

THE WELL OF DAYS—Ivan Bunin— Knopf ($2.50). Three months ago few U. S. readers had ever heard of Ivan Alexeyevich Bunin. Now, by grace of his recently-won Nobel Prize (TIME, Nov. 20), the U. S. public is aware of his name if not of his books. To take advantage of his sudden fame, Publisher Knopf rushed two Bunin reprints (The Gentleman from San Francisco, The Village) through the press, last fortnight brought out his latest (translated) novel, The Well of Days. Readers of this grave, sensitive but unmodern autobiographical novel may now...