Books: Sailor's Return

THE SAILOR'S RETURN—David Garnett—Knopf ($2.00).

There is an indefinable quality in David Garnett's genius. No one explained the charm of Lady into Fox; no one will quite explain The Sailor's

Return. The story is simple enough. In the late '50's a plain and hearty British sailor returns to England with his wife—the daughter of an African king—and their baby. They establish themselves in a village pub. The sailor tends bar; the alien princess is his cheerful helpmate. The village reaction results in tragedy. The baby is consigned, through friendly sailor hands, to Africa, perhaps to...