The Interpreter's House—
"Work, Love and a Background of Beauty"
The Story. Gulian Eyre, 35, handsome, attractive, returns to Manhat- tan, bringing with him Vannya—Major Ivan Polienoff, Russian artist. Gulian has served in the War, has tried to write poetry in Paris, has been attached to the diplomatic service in Japan. Now he plans to settle down.
His father is Henry Eyre, a famed retired banker, who never has believed in interfering with his children. The present head of Eyre & Co. is Gulian's brother Philip, at college a Christian-athlete, now a settled citizen who regards Gulian with some scorn. Gulian also has a sister Drusilla. She is married (not very happily, one judges) to a broker, Perry Shipman, who is also a rounder.
Gulian falls in love with Vida Prendergast, who is unhappily married to Sydney Prendergast, son, of Father Eyre's partner. But just as that affair shows signs of becoming dangerous, Gulian learns that his father's health is in a grave condition—"any sudden shock would kill him." Vida will not divorce her husband and partly on account of his father's condition, Gulian will not consider any other arrangement. So the affair ends.
While he is at the Eyre's place up the Hudson, trying to forget, Gulian meets Lael Sartori, moody and bitter debutante, whom he finds amusing. He meets her again at Sister Brasilia's, falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she misunderstands him and turns him down. So he goes back to New York, bitter.
Then when he is in New York he discovers that his sister—who must have been more unhappy than he realized—has been having an affair with the irresponsible Vannya and that it, too, is threatening to become serious. To end this he tells Drusilla and Vannya—who has by this time become a great friend of the older Mr. Eyre— of the condition of his father. This has the desired effect.
All this time he has been working in the office of Broker Shipman. But Lael Sartori refuses him once more, and he, disgusted, resigns. And just as he resigns there comes a letter from Lael. She will marry him after all! Happiness . . .
That very night comes the crash. His brother Philip has been speculating with embezzled funds. He puts this information in the hands of Gulian, then shoots himself. Gulian is left with the nasty problem of saving the family name.
But if it is a nasty problem, it is also the salvation of Gulian. His father is too old, so he must take charge of the situation. With rare skill he keeps the disgrace from coming into the open. He frees Drusilla from Perry, leaves her disengaged for Vannya. And he himself marries Lael.
The Significance. Mr. Burt's novel tries to view the contemporary scene and to make some interpretation of it. "Work," says Gulian, "work that fills every crevice of your passion for work; love, as much a part of you as your breath; and a background of quiet beauty." It is a fair formula. But how much of it would Gulian have fulfilled without accident? He himself tried work of various sorts and did not find ,that it filled every crevice— just to take one of the three. Nevertheless, it is an interesting, serious, first novel. At times it is too much an essay. But it holds the attention.