Monday, Dec. 02, 1929

Husband v. Lover

SERENADE To THE HANGMAN--Maurice Dekobra--Payson & Clarke ($2.50). Ibrahim, an Egyptian cuckolder, is imprisoned in Stamboul, about to be hanged for anarchy. To him comes Schomburg, Bohemian psychiatrist, one of the men he has cuckolded. He offers Ibrahim freedom, on condition that he commit suicide a year later. Joyfully Ibrahim signs the pledge, escapes his prison, flirts with guests on the Schomburg yacht, crosses swords of wit with Schomburg himself, saves a little French dancer from ruffians and takes her to live with him. He wanders feverishly through Europe feeling the days slip by. When he wants to hide, Schomburg seems near, watching like a cat, keeping him in reach with a careless paw. The dancer informs Schomburg of their whereabouts, believing him Ibrahim's wise but unappreciated doctor. Thus there is suspense, leading to a pathetic, human, amusing climax that no reviewer should reveal. Author Dekobra has motored all through Europe, tiger-hunted in the Congo, canoed up the Nile, translated Daniel DeFoe, Jack London and O. Henry into French. Famed in 15 languages is his novel The Madonna of the Sleeping Cars, in which a character reputedly derived from Diana Duff-Cooper, famed English beauty, has very improbable adventures.

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