unmasked, must be the main surprise which ends an unbroken and increasing train of suspense. The skill with which Mr. Van Dine does this is beautifully complicated and adroit, and without recourse to any unfair trickery or concealment. There is even a hopeless paralytic involved, and yet so great is our author's mastery of his subject that the hopeless paralytic does not commit the murder, in itself enough to make the Greene Case most exceptional. The story, as already intimated, centres about that new character of detective fiction, perhaps a trifle too bizarre, but with all the capacity of his most brilliant predecessors. Mr. Vance, necessarily enough, is an extraordinary fellow, one of the New York Four Hundred, an immensely rich dilettante with studious leanings, particularly in the realm of psychology. Besides brain power, need one add that the physical frame of Philo is as strong and supple as a Toledo blade, despite the exquisite brocaded dressing gowns and morning coats which encase it? Mr. Vance has his own theories regarding crime, which are refreshingly novel, despite all the theories encountered by the inveterate reader. He does not believe in clues or in searching the room with a microscope. Instead he looks upon crime as a critic, seeing in each criminal act a complete piece of creative work, bound to bear the peculiar imprint of the criminal, just as surely as a canvas bears the characteristics of the artist. Bringing to this theory a mind stored with an appalling amount of variegated learning, Philo Vance achieves a chain of reasoning by which no one may be ashamed to be diverted. The other characters in the volume, though they are of the chessboard sort belonging to any complicated plot, are amazingly well drawn, everything considered. In fact, many a more serious novelist than our author, with far greater opportunities for character drawing, has populated his world with a considerably less defined society. The total result of the book is what is best. Even to a reader above ephemeral byplay the impression of The Greene Murder Case must be one of excellent workmanship. There is a clarity to it, a finish in both plot and style, that is too inescapable to be ignored, for it is essentially first-rate; and in these days of hasty writing any first-rate piece of work, despite its origin, is surely worthy of serious attention. JOHN MARQUAND The books selected for review in the Atlantic are chosen from lists furnished through the courteous coöperation of such trained judges as the following: American Library Association Booklist, Wisconsin Free Library Commission, and the public-library staffs of Boston, Springfield (Massachusetts), Newark, Cleveland, Kansas City, St. Louis, and the Pratt Institute Free Library of Brooklyn. The following books have received definite commendation from members of the Board: A Mirror for Witches, by Esther Forbes The uncanny life of a seventeenth-century witch Mr. Weston's Good Wine, by T. F. Powys HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Co. Illus. $2.50 Spiritual symbols in a novel written with fascination and beauty VIKING PRESS Illus. $3.50 The Eternal Moment, and Other Stories, by E. M. Forster HARCOURT, BRACE & Co. $2.50 Home to Harlem, by Claude McKay BOBBS-MERRILL CO. $3.00 HARPER & BROS. $2.50 Records of their race by two gifted young negro authors, the first a black Odyssey, and the second a novel of the negro city Lawrence and the Arabian Adventure, by Robert Graves DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & CO. Illus. $3.00 A new and informing account of the author of Revolt in the Desert The Brontë Sisters, by Ernest Dimnet HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO. Illus. $5.00 HARCOURT, BRACE & Co. $2.50 Called by Andrew Lang 'the best book on the Brontës'; now first available in English translation The Stump Farm, by Hilda Rose LITTLE, BROWN & Co. (An Atlantic Monthly Press Publication) Illus. $2.00 Heroic letters of a contemporary pioneer The Misbehaviourists, by Harvey Wickham Mid-Pacific, by James Norman Hall Random papers by a familiar and delightful traveler The Marsh Arab, by 'Fulanain' The life of an Arabian Trader Horn' Alice in the Delighted States, by Edward Hope DIAL PRESS Illus. $3.50 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO. $3.00 Exuberant and entertaining travesty on American life and customs The Seventh Hill, by Robert Hillyer J. B. LIPPINCOTT Co. $3.00 DIAL PRESS Illus. $2.50 VIKING PRESS $1.50 New poems of ripening significance and beauty by an American of recognized distinction Burning Bush, by Louis Untermeyer HARCOURT, BRACE & Co. $2.00 Here is a choice of good reading for you There are books on this list surely that you will want to add to your library By André Maurois. The life of the amazing dandy, who became Prime Minister and confidant of the Queen. Everybody is reading this extraordinary biography. 2nd Hundred Thousand. Illustrated. By Brand Whitlock. "A gripping story tremendous, human drama . $3.00 A a brilliant and vivid study of contemporary political life." The Sun Hawk $2.00 By Robert W. Chambers. Tale of Frontenac, Hanging Johnny $2.00 By Myrtle Johnston. A novel that in its gripping intensity and beauty is recognized as one of the year's leading literary creations. The Shores of Romance $2.00 By Mariel Brady. "The only successor to Myra Kelly's 'Little Citizens. Should be read by millions.' - Blanche Colton Williams A Pen and Ink Passion $2.00 By Alice Herbert. A revealing story of a mature woman's love for a younger man. The Respectable Lady $1.50 By Katharine Tynan. The charm of a quiet English countryside pervades this pleasant novel. $2.00 Bryan: The Great Commoner By J. C. Long. Here is the long-promised biography of one of America's most amazingly dramatic figures, William Jennings Bryan, "a cross between St. George and Don Quixote." A full-length portrait of Bryan and his fiery career. Illustrated $3.50 with cartoons and photographs. Jack Kelso By Edgar Lee Masters. The author of "Spoon River Anthology" writes a dramatic poem of this poet, wanderer, friend of Lincoln and half legendary figure. In his story lies the symbol of his country's spiritual life. $2.50 The A. E. F. in Battle By Dale Van Every. "A compact running ac- By T. K. Whipple. A critical analysis of Sinclair $2.50 By C. E. Andrews. "Of the spring books for voyagers, this is the most interesting for people who are setting out for the belle ville on the Seine." The New Yorker. Illustrated, $2.50 Together By Philip Hughes. The love-romance of an amusing young English architect and a very charming French girl. Filled with delightful characterization. $2.00 The Holiday By C. Lenanton. On a holiday Georgine and her delightful friends find gaiety and happiness and romance! A witty delineation of "nice people." $2.00 Alice in Movieland By Alice Williamson. The truth about the Hollywood Movie Stars. A treasure trove of information, fully illustrated. Morton Prince and Abnormal $2.00 $1.75 By W. S. Taylor. The only review of the famous psychologist's system as a whole. Modern Youth and Marriage By Henry Neumann. A balanced judgment of "companionate marriage" and similar views. $1.50 The Lord's Minstrel-St. Francis of Assisi By C. M. Duncan Jones. The most human and lovable of saints, St. Francis, in a beautiful story for young readers. Colored illustrations. $2.50 An illustrated monthly guide to new books will be sent upon request for 50c LUK SHAW says -of this book that he has been work- The INTELLIGENT [FIRST PRINTING 80,000 COPIES] AT ALL BOOKSTORES $3.00 Publishers BRENTANO'S (New York) The jolly windings THE SON OF MAN THE HE biographer of Napoleon, the man of war, now gives us the story of the Prince of Peace. Told in the words of a contemporary to whom the tremendous theological consequences of the life he describes were unknown, this book presents for the first time a real and intensely human Jesus. The Road to BUENOS AYRES by Albert Londres AVIVID and fearless exposé of the in ternational white slave traffic. It has been praised by all critics. Blair Niles said: "A book of such integrity and penetration cannot fail to influence thought."-N. Y. Herald Tribune. Now in its third edition. A sensation in France. Contemporaries of Marco Polo Edited by were contemporaries of Marco Polo. The texts are and of a most delightfal quality. Black and Gold Labary Octavo. BOOJUM! by Charles Wertenbaker THIS Odyssey of youth, free, gay and preoc with living, rather alving world problems, to, brilliance and an spirit of liveliness. $2.00 Pulitzer Prize Play STRANGE NTERLUDE by Eugene O'Neill NTO this work he has poured his accumulation of gic skill, his increasinvention and all his wisof life... It is the story an and the glory of all miserable, beautitangled and chaotic life, out of an artistic exand played upon by of his deepGeorge Jean $2.50 of a pleasant Path WHEN the heat waves hit you don't get grouchytake a calm, cool stroll through this literary garden. There are books here which will amuse and amaze you-others which will soothe and cheer you. POEMS IN PRAISE by Samuel Hoffenstein value wit, felicity of phrasing, technical brilliance, sardonic lyricism and just plain fun, the book will be worth at least ten times what it cost you." -Burton Rascoe. Sixth edition. $2.00 SUNSET GUN by Dorothy Parker Author of ENOUGH ROPE ORE sly lyrics about which the critics will soon begin to marshal such phrases as "exquisitely whimsicaluncorseted but not devoid of grace-ironitally flippant-full of salty humor." $2.00 Wherever GOOD BOOKS are sold. B&D going to be so much for girls GEORGIE by Maxwell THE story of a courtesan MY LIFE by Isadora Duncan THOSE who have lightly picked up the book expecting to relish scandal have left it with a feeling of reverence for the courage, the frankness, the sheer human greatness it reveals. "Full of spirit and color and unquenchable firea fascinating and enthralling volume."- Saturday Review of Literature. Seventh edition, octavo, illustrated. BONI & LIVERIGHT 61 West 48th Street $5.00 New York City |