Fiction: Recent Books: Jan. 17, 1938

WINTER ix APRIL—Robert Nathan— Knopf ($2). In his 13th novel Author Nathan’s deft, gently ironic fantasy—now working as smoothly as a zipper—shows to its usual advantage. He has not forfeited the compliment once paid him by Louis Bromfield. “There are,” said Novelist Bromneld of the works of Novelist Nathan, “no books in the world so pleasant to read just before turning in.”

THE THIRD HOUR—Geoffrey House-hold—Little, Brown ($2.50). This mixed up English story begins promisingly as a tale of revolutionary adventure and buried gold in Mexico, soon turns into a monotonous thesis novel in which the principals form a new international order, build a retreat financed by the buried gold, debate communism, fascism, religion with Aldous Huxley’s pacifism, little of his wit.

THE WELL OF ARARAT — Emmanuel Varandyan—Donbleday, Doran ($2.50). Brooding melodrama, against a colorful pre-War Persian village background, in which an introspective boy plays a passionate part in wrecking his uncle’s marriage.