Tristan: By Hannah Close. (Andrew Dakers Ltd., London, 1940. Pp. 342. Price 8 s. 6 d.)

This is a twentieth century interpretation of the immortal legendary tale of Tristan and Iseult. The author is especially interested in the character and psychology of Tristan. She creates a distinct personality in him, tracing his behaviour in success and failure with a sure intuitive touch down to his inner motives. His utter lack of sense of reality, his living in a dream of valour and high deeds, which make him give up success as soon as it is won and pursue the ineffable—be it a father's or a woman's affection or a mythical land—are convincingly described. His mother and the second Iseult are more clearly felt than the somewhat shadowy Queen of Cornwall. The author dispenses with the love potion, as a modern writer has every right to do.

The book is written in short chapters, giving the idea of impressions produced on the acting persons' mind. The style throughout is admirable and poetic; when the writer breaks into vers libre this seems to come out of a necessity for this form and to convey more than prose could. The book is a worthy successor to the best written on this theme and of great interest to the psychologist.