Lost, Found

THE MAN WHO LOST HIMSELF--Osbert Sitwell--Coward-McCann ($2.50).

This is a mystery story in the modern, Osbert-Sitwellian manner: besides the mystery it contains much acute and polished conversation on morals, literature, life; a complete satirical sketch of tourists shut up together on a liner; criticisms of art and nature; and what might almost serve as a guidebook to Granada, Spanish setting of the famed Moorish Alhambra.

Tristram Orlander, author whose genius never came to flower, found himself not once but twice. The first time was in Granada, when he was recovering from a nervous breakdown brought on by an unsuccessful love-affair. Just for something to do, he one day inquired for himself at the expensive Hotel Boabdil, thinking he would thus get a sight of the hotel register, see who was there. To his dismay the porter said the gentleman was in and was expecting him, led Tristram to a room. An elderly stranger rose to greet him: it was Tristram himself, but middleaged. He fainted, came to himself in the lobby of the hotel, left Granada next day. Soon he forced himself to forget. Many years later he had become a popular writer, rich, famed; again he came to Granada on a holiday, put up at the still expensive Hotel Boabdil. One evening came a knock on the door. The same scene was repeated, only this time he himself was the elderly stranger; this time the shock killed him.

The Author. Osbert Sitwell, poet, novelist, playwright, one of the three enfants terribles of present-day English literature (the other two: Brother Sacheverell, Sister Edith) is the eldest son of a baronet, was educated at Eton, served in the War with the Grenadier Guards. Like his brother, his sister, he is tall, pale, has thin lips, restless hands; unassailable socially, he delights in flouting convention. The English Who's Who lists his recreations as: "Regretting the Bourbons, Repartee, and Tu Quoque." Once an inveterate golfer and left handed cricketer, he now, according to his own statement has "abandant all other athletic interests in order to urge the adoption of new sports, such as, pelota, kif-kif and the pengo. (Especially the latter.)" He possesses the original manuscript of Bishop Heber's famed hymn, "From Greenland's Icy Mountains." Other books: Argonaut and Juggernaut, Who Killed Cock Robin?, Discursions on Travel, Art and Life, Be fore the Bombardment, All at Sea.

*Figures quoted by Socialist Norman Thomas (The Conscientious Objector in America) as given by the War Department.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.