Gossip

WHEN THE WICKED MAN . . .--Ford Madox Ford--Liveright ($2.50). When a gossiper is going well he is not necessarily wicked, is often entertaining, sometimes even slightly edifying. Ford Madox Ford's books are gossipy, mostly entertaining but occasionally like the vaporings of the club bore. He is a great one . . . for three dots. Notterdam and Kratch had been through thick & thin, up a deal and down hell together. They were now twin tycoons lording it in Manhattan. Kratch had many an iron in the fire; Notterdam's only one was the rod with which he ruled the great publishing house of Post, Gellatly & Jeaffreson. Cronies but always cantankerous, Notterdam and Kratch came to grips, almost to blows, over the House's policy. When the dust settled Kratch had left sulphurously for Europe, Notterdam had determined to buy out his partner, never see him again. Then things began to happen to Notterdam. . . . When not quite sober he had been persuaded to sign a long-term contract with an obscure author. He repudiated the contract. The author, who was starving, killed himself. Notterdam had a peck of trouble hushing up the story, was first helped, then hindered by the author's disreputable wife. Notterdam was in love with his secretary, Henrietta Felise, and it was mutual, but when he found his wife had been for years in love with Kratch it seemed to complicate the situation. He tried to cut out drinking and could not. Coming back from a business trip to Europe he decided there was only one feature of his life he could reform: give up Henrietta Felise. He cabled her to that effect. But she was waiting for him on the dock.

Author Ford's subject is not humorous and he never tries to be funny with it. but occasionally comedy descends on him unawares, as in this passionate whisper from Henrietta Felise: "You must take care of me. . . You must never leave me. . . You don't know how sick at heart. . . You don't know how I long. . . We must try out. . . Even if it were only passing S. A. it might be ... oh, very beautiful. . . ." The Author-- Ford Madox Hueffer changed his name to Ford in 1919, "for family reasons." Born in England (1873) of a German father, he loved Germany but during the War fought in the English army. With his good friend Joseph Conrad he collaborated on two novels: The Inheritors (1901), Romance (1903). After the War he wrote two angry novels (never published), intended to write more but changed his mind. Ford considers England will not be normal again till a new generation has grown up. He divides his time between Manhattan and Paris, waiting for that day. Tall, fair-haired,, lumbering. Ford looks like a cartoonist's Englishman, speaks with a wheeze (he was gassed), wears baggy tweeds, smokes cheap French cigarets. He is a Roman Catholic. Other books: Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up, The Last Post.

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