Books: Bess Grows Up

ELIZABETH, CAPTIVE PRINCESS (246 pp.) —Margaret Irwin—HarcourtBrace ($3).

Miss Virginia D. Mussi of Woonsocket, R.I. sat down and wrote a letter to the Literary Guild:

"After a steady diet of this type of novel, I find the very mention of 'historical romance' leaves me cold and uninterested. I believe that even a good thing can be overdone." Did the million and more members of the Literary Guild feel the way Miss Mussi did? A year ago, when guild editors polled their members, 75% said they were eager for most costume-built novels. Now, the Guild confessed nervously, a good many members seem to be...

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