Green-Eyed Monster

JEALOUSY--Norah C. James--Covici, Friede ($2.50).

Of the few up-&-coming English novelists, Norah James is not quite up but she seems to be coming. Her Sleeveless Errand (1929), a potent presentation of justifiable suicide, was suppressed by the London police. Even fundamentalist parsons, however, should find nothing to cavil at, much to approve, in Jealousy.

On the long drive (307 1/2 mi.) from London to Gretna Green, traditional goal of British elopers, Michael and Catherine have a lot to think about. She had been married to a War neurotic whose insane jealousy had finally driven her away. The night she left he had shot himself; she still felt responsible. When she was beginning to get over it she met Michael and they fell in love. Before they had progressed very far she discovered that his possessiveness was developing into jealousy too much like her first husband's. She could not risk another tragedy: they broke up. On a month's business trip in Scandinavia Michael took stock of himself, discovered his jealousy was a mixture of vanity and inferiority, resigned himself to having lost Catherine for good. When he wrote her a friendly letter, not expecting to see her again, she gave him to his amazement another chance, suggested they run off next day and get married. While they drive to Gretna Green and marriage they are too tired, too busy with their reminiscent thoughts, to say much to each other, but this time they are sure it will be a go. Whether such a laudable transmogrification is possible or not, Authoress James succeeds in making her twp love-torn victims likely winners, their hard-won happy ending almost as plausible as praiseworthy.

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