Is America Imperialistic? --- Outstanding Books of 1925

TO pronounce at this time any final judgment on the best books of the past year is impossible, and to attempt it is ridiculous. But it is possible and perhaps not altogether useless to consider briefly those books which now seem interesting, worth reading or examining. I don't pretend to have read all the books I shall mention, and whatever hasty opinions of them I give are formed merely from what I've read in or about them, or from an undigested consensus of the remarks of other people. As my list is made up almost wholly from memory, it doubtless omits many books of great merit; includes several that are trivial because of some personal bias; and possibly omits several of importance for the same reason. With this apology ended, I shall proceed to wander through a list which is by no means in order of merit, or in much of any other order.

Very late in the year appeared Thomas Hardy's "Human Show, Far Phantasies, Songs, and Trifles," a book of poems which, though chiefly written late in his life show that this very great writer still has undiminished strength and beauty of expression, quiet wit and sometimes grim but always sympathetic outlook. John Masefield's "Trial of Jesus" is a dramatic rendering of the gospel narrative, using largely the biblical expressions in a manner which is decidedly interesting. As acted in Masefield's own small theatre it is said to have been moving and impressive. Cameron Rogers has compiled an interesting and very well illustrated collection of drinking songs and poems under the title of "Full and By." A. P. Herbert's "Laughing Ann" has the gaiety of Milne's "When We Were Very Young," but it has more grace and skill if it lacks something of the jolly quotable rhythm. Miss Lowell's "What's O'Clock," published a few months after her death, contains some very charming poetry of her familiar variety. "Earth Moods? by Hervey Allen surveys the world from its creation in a large and hearty manner and then continues in pleasant detail to recite further history including the Norse discovery of America. Maurice Baring's poems have been issued in a collected edition. E. A. Robinson's "Dionysius in Doubt" and Robert Hillyer's "Halt in the Garden" are well known and have been so well reviewed in the CRIMSON that I need add no comment. "The Pot of Earth" by Archibald.

MacLeish, and "Two Lives" by W. E. Leonard are comparatively little known, but are very much worth attention. To make any criticism of them short of a review would be difficult and not very illuminating.

The annual crop of novels and stories is, as usual, large, and in it there are several of worth. "The Professor's House" by Willa Cather is one of the most excellent, and rather curiously, has been popular. Steven's 'Paul Bunyan" records the yarns of the great legendary character of the American lumber-camps. Theodore Dreiser has written his first novel in several years, "An American Tragedy," in two volumes. J. R. Dos Passos in "Manhattan Transfer," writing in a kaleidoscopic fashion that savours of James Joyce describes the life of New York--or a part of it. Christopher Morley's "Thunder on the Left" is well known and applauded. "The Private Life of Helen of Troy" by John Erskine is an entertaining and modern story of that fascinating lady after her return to Menelaus. Then there is "Bring! Bring!" by Conrad Aiken, good short stories with a bad title, a collection of the stories of Sarah Orne Jewett, "Caravan" by John Galsworthy, and Jane Austen's "Sanditon," hitherto unpublished. Despite the CRIMSON'S obituary of Sherwood Anderson, his "Dark Laughter" seems to me a great improvement over some of his other books. Michael Arien's "May Fair" is on the order of his other books, but after the first flash he becomes a little tiresome. Maurice Baring has produced another entertaining and delightfully written novel, "Cat's Cradle." "Suspense" is an unfinished novel by Joseph Conrad. David Garnett's "Sailor's Return," an amusing and well written story, describes strange events in a quiet English village. "The Constant Nymph" is one of the most pleasant and vivid stories that has appeared for some time, and will make everyone hope for more novels by Margaret Kennedy. D. H. Lawrence's "St. Mawr," Aldous Huxley's "Those Barren Leaves," and Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" all seem to have their admirers. There has been another title added to the English version of Marcel Proust--"The Guermantes Way." As usual the translating is excellent, and the book is in many respects the most fascinating of this great series. In "Arrowsmith," Sinclair Lewis has produced his best but by no means his most popular novel. He seems to give promise of writing better and preaching reform less. "The Tale of Genji," translated from the twelfth century Japanese by Arthur Waley, tells with great charm and delicacy the story of a royal prince with some of the characteristics of a Don Juan. It is curious to find so old a story so new, so alive, and so modern.

Good biographies become constantly more numerous, and often, more amusing; but there are several which are serious and critical and full of detail. "John Keats" by Amy Lowell is a monumental work which has created much discussion, and attracted high praise and severe condemnation. Werner's "Brigham Young" treats in a light but serious manner the extraordinary story of Mormonism and one of the most extraordinary figures in American history. John Marquand has written an entertaining but slightly padded account of "Lord Timothy Dexter," the freak of Newburyport, and Isaac Goldberg an interesting and elaborate life of "The Man Mencken." Earl Grey's "Memoirs" relate, among other things, what he is willing to tell of the British foreign relations at the outbreak of the War. Dr. Harvey Cushing has written an exhaustive and pleasant life of "Sir William Osler." From a very slight examination, I think Drinkwater's book on Bryon is entertaining and valuable. The subject will never cease to be interesting, and treated in the excellent prose of Drinkwater it should be well worth reading and having. The "Death of Marlowe"' by Hotson is an interesting addition to the biography of Marlowe and to literary history, solving a mystery of centuries. "The Diaries of George Washington" have been published in two large volumes, and make available material of historic importance and human interest. The correspondence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, friendly, charming, and thoughtful letters written years after their respective presidencies, when they had retired from public life and were watching the changes in the world and the new nation with detached philosophic calm is a very entertaining book. Another book of letters, by Edgar Allan Poe is an important addition to American literary biography.

To anyone who is interested in fine printing--and everyone who can and does read should be interesting in having his books as well printed as possible, "Modern Fine Printing" by Morison is well worth looking at. I cannot agree with his selections always, but the facsimiles