Riceyman Steps*

Mr. Bennett Ransacks a few Open Basements

The Story. The romance of Henry Earlforward, middle-aged bookseller of Riceyman Steps, Clerkenwell, and of Violet Arb, well-to-do widow, past 40 who had recently inherited the confectioner's shop across the way, was an odd but happy linking together of two penny-pinching temperaments. The grand passion of Henry's life was for solid cash -- a passion so strong it attained the proportions of self-sacrificing heroism. When he discovered on the eve of his marriage that Violet had actually been paying their mutual charwoman, Elsie, less than he, he glowed to think what a wonderful wife he was getting. So he wedded her with a nine-caret ring and Elsie stayed on to work harder than ever at even smaller wages for the two of them.

At first the Earlforwards were snug and contented as bonds in a safe-deposit box -- in spite of Elsie's shock ing appetite for an occasional square meal -- and Elsie, too, was as con tented as a servant can properly expect to be, except when she remembered her shell-shocked suitor, Joe, who had disappeared shortly before the Earlforwards' marriage. But Henry's passion finally proved too strong for him -- he ate less and less (food is so costly), to Violet's great anxiety and in spite of all she could do. And Violet, too, began to wither and pine. Then Henry fell ill and refused to go to the hospital -- Violet broke under the strain and had to be taken off for an operation -- and, at the worst possible moment, Joe returned, in the clutches of acute malaria. Elsie had to hide him in her room and nurse both him and Henry, without Henry's finding out the situation -- poor Elsie! Poor Henry and Violet, too -- for Violet proved too insufficiently nourished to rally after the operation and Henry died the next morning in front of his beloved safe. The whole story, including Joe and Elsie, furnished a three days' sensation for the news papers -- the Arb-Earlforward fortune was ironically inherited by a brother who had not seen Henry for 30 years -- and only Joe and Elsie, the humble, got any lasting happiness out of the whole affair. They were married as soon as Joe was convalescent, and one certainly hopes that Doctor Raste, their new employer, set a good table -- for the inarticulately heroic Elsie had at least a year's meals to make up.

The Significance. In Riceyman Steps, Mr. Bennett successfully re-turns to the rich, discursive, detailed manner of Clayhanger and The Old Wives' Tale. A slighter book than these, it is nevertheless quite as able. The bare outline of the plot necessarily makes the novel sound some-what squalid and overly grim--but it is neither. There is much humor in it, excellent portraiture, great fidelity to life. The years have not diminished Mr. Bennett's extraordinary curiosity about practically everything and person in this transient world.

The Critics. Laurence Stallings: u If the narrative pauses for one moment and Mr. Bennett perceives an open basement door, the whole book must wait while he ransacks the dwelling of interest."

The New York Times: "The few characters in the book are all sordid, not to say squalid. . . . But the book is full of an atmosphere of spiritual charm and even beauty. . . ."

The Author. Enoch Arnold Bennett was born (May 27, 1867) in North Staffordshire, England, and educated at Newcastle Middle School. He was destined for the Law, but abandoned it for journalism and was for a time assistant editor of Woman. He has published more than 20 novels, besides essays, books of short stories and an array of pocket-philosophies. He is a successful playwright and one of the few living authors to own a yacht.

* RICEYMAN STEPS--Arnold Bennett-- Doran ($2.00).