Show Characters in New Work Belong to American Scene The success of High Fires the first novel of Marjorie Barkley Barkley McClure which was published in 1924 has prepared an expectant Burned public for A Bush That In this story of Harmony Hale Mrs McClure has again proved herself a novelist of unusual distinction Like the characters in High Fires the people of this book are firmly grounded in the American scene recognizable human Individuals with real problems and in natural situations nice situations nice people in the best sense After the er erotic tic nervous nervous nervous nerv nerv- ous and exceptional types that have crowded recent fiction they ey come like a fresh breeze from open country We meet Harmony first as a little lit little little lit lit- tle girl in hi a tantrum a strong willed youngster with witti a temper that is put ut under control for good and all when she hears from her own fam- fam ly ily history the dangers of such out outbursts bursts She remains however a character of strength th and md ability a a. I prop to her friends and to an unworthy unworthy unworthy un un- un- un worthy cousin who wins the love of her girlhood In this youthful love ove she comes close to tragedy Tom her cousing is reported missing missing miss- miss ing ng at the end of ot the war Back I from a year of fruitless s search arch in Europe she finds herself In her old I I group In Cleveland which has hasI I somehow become a new group with I relaxed relaxed consciences and self that tha amaze her The vigorous vigorous vigorous vig vig- orous and upright training of ot her heri i childhood and her early disillusionment disillusion disillusion- ment have left their mark on hershe her she is a burnt child and she cannot cannot cannot can can- canI I not succumb easily to the spirit of ot the time Morton Trench a new I arrival in Cleveland she soon dIscovers discovers discovers dis dIs- covers is the man to supplant Tom In her affections and It is not until after they are engaged that she i realizes at what wide variance are his standards standard and her own It is isI I harder to hold out against h her hr r rI friends with him also against her but she resolves to stand by her I beliefs even though the cost be her happiness It is about this struggle struggle struggle gle between the stern principles for which she stands and on the other side the easy living livin and law laWbreaking break breaking ing of her generation that this novel is centered Harmony and Morton seemed to have reached an impasse but circumstances a and d their great love point a way outA outA outA out A Bush That Burned is a Ing and thoughtful thoughtful- novel with not only beauty but strength and power powen pow- pow er en and humanity besides Minton Balch Baich Co to New York York- |