Books: Knighthood Not in Flower

THE WHITE CHARGER (345 pp.)—Elsa Triolet—Rinehart ($3).

Elsa Triolet is the wife of Poet Louis Aragon, one of whose recent volumes was named The Eyes of Elsa. In 1944, she won France's Prix Goncourt with her short stories; but readers are not likely to find her new book a prizewinner.

The White Charger is a novel about Michel, an illegitimate son. Father spends most of his time at sea, mother spends most of hers smoking opium, so Michel soon learns to look after himself. He grows into a talented pianist and crooner —but so...