Books: Sacred Lunatic

MR. BLETTSWORTHY ON RAMPOLE ISLAND—H. G. Wells—Doubleday, Doran ($2-50).

The Story. Arnold Blettsworthy, newly weaned from Oxford, not only affianced himself to the tobacconist's yellow-haired daughter, but joined forces with his best friend in a project to enlighten the world through a chain of bright blue bookshops. Cheated by the friend, jilted by the tobacconist's daughter, Blettsworthy's disillusion affected him so desperately that his kindly solicitor-guardian prescribed the traditional remedy—a year on the high seas.

Instead of proverbial rollicking freedom, rhythmic sea-chanteys, rough cammeraderie of the sea, Blettsworthy, supercargo, found ship's quarters...