Lewisohn, Ludwig. For Ever Wilt Thou Love. New York:  The Dial Press.

Mr. Lewisohn's poetic, dignified prose, his great fund of knowledge usually make anything he writes a stimulating pleasure to read. But this novel, “For Ever Wilt Thou Love,” is an exception. The form does not fit the material.

The form, in that it is a dramatic presentation of a discussion, reminds one of Plato's dialogues. A man in the late forties married to a frigid woman rebels against what life does to love and at a dinner party in reply to one of his wife's taunts, describes at length the perfect love affair of his life from which a discussion of love, its demands, its possibilities in the modern world ensues.

Now the material is interesting; it is vital. All the characters, both in the love affair and at the dinner party are consistent and typical. But Mr. Lewisohn should have written it in some other form. As it is it is shocking and does not convince the reader. Even in this age of sophistication and impropriety, one does not discuss the intimate details of a cherished love affair with others, including one's wife.

All the interpretations of behavior and character are Freudian and are all correctly drawn. Mr. Lewisohn knows whereof he speaks. His manner of conveying his knowledge, however, is too obvious and pontifical. The reader resents being instructed. But perhaps Mr. Lewisohn is being more subtle than this reviewer realizes. Perhaps he has left the most pertinent analysis to be found between the lines and is actually saying, “the character explains all.” For the central figure, the raconteur, is a narcissistic adolescent, phantasying the fulfillment of the Œdipien wishes. And a great deal of his frustration, perhaps even some of his wife's frigidity, could be explained in these terms.