An Old Captivity

A NEW novel by the author of Ordeal and Kindling is something to anticipate without fear, for there are few, if any, better storytellers writing today than Mr. Shute. In his sure, unhurried method of narration, you eat every meal, dream every dream, labor, tire, and refresh yourself with the people of his stories. And suddenly these small things are true and real things, and you know that they are important, for the whole story has become true and real. So in this account of a seaplane expedition from England to Greenland, and on to Cape Cod, you live every prosaic detail right up to an amazing climax where fact and magic meet and somehow merge. A first-rate story, which the reader will not forget.

One criticism cannot be omitted. The introductory eight and a fraction pages serve no purpose but to confuse. At the end of the book one harks back to them regretfully. Please, Mr. Shute, in the next edition start with the words ‘Donald Ross’ on page 9.