Romains (Cont'd}

THE EARTH TREMBLES--Jules Romains --Knopf ($3). When last week the fifth volume of Jules Romains' super-novel (Men of Good Will--TIME, June 5, 1933 et seq.) appeared, no one knew how many more were to come. Even Author Romains himself could not or would not say how nearly he had brought his big job to completion. Readers who had watched this literary skyscraper rise from its foundations were still unable to agree whether it actually was to be a skyscraper, a museum, a prison or what. Skeptics still cocked a wary eye at the construction, averred that by the time it was completed the foundations might well give way and that the whole thing might be nothing but a heap of Romains remains. Sympathizers still stoutly declared it to be one of the burgeoning wonders of the literary world. Whatever it was to become, however, spectators of all camps still found it worth watching.

In this fifth installment Author Romains sticks mainly to industrial and political developments; some of the earlier characters do not even appear. Tycoon Bertrand's automobile factory booms, and Bertrand's fortunes are furthered by joining forces with Champcenais and the sinister armament-maker, Zuelpicher. Briand is shown briefly at the Republic's helm, while Gurau, the ambitious politician, bides his time until he can get the Cabinet post he wants. The Abbe Mionnet, sent to tighten up discipline in a provincial diocese, nearly gets in trouble himself when rumors of his liaison begin to get about. Laulerque, who has joined the secret organization that is to save the peace of Europe, has doubts of his unknown brethren's integrity--doubts which are not dismissed by an attempt on Briand's life, a vague scheme for kidnapping royalty. The two student friends, Jerphanion and Jallez, finish their course, have one last reunion in Jerphanion's mountain home. The peace of Europe hangs in the balance when Premier Cail-laux, behind his Foreign Minister's back, intrigues with Berlin. The atmosphere of Paris grows weekly more tense, war daily more imminent.

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