ALASTAIR NIVEN Lawrence's view of politics, concluding D. H. Lawrence: The Novels that Lawrence flirted with authoritarianism only to abhor it later as he would have Cambridge: Cambridge University abhorred the fascist governments of Press, 1978. Pp. 188. $5.95; Europe, had he lived to see them. Through­ $16.95. out these "travel" novels, Lawrence explores new values and searches for a vital mode of existence to replace the sterility of modern life. In the last.chapter, Niven points to Niven's study of Lawrence's novels similarities in theme and setting between provides an excellent introduction to and Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lawrence as an artist and as a thinker. and this comparison with the first novel is a Although the main focus is on the novels useful measure to assess Lawrence's artistic themselves, on an analysis of language, development. imagery, and themes, Niven also discusses Lawrence's letters since he believes that This series on British authors, of which they are essential for throwing light on this study is a part, wishes to promote an Lawrence's mood and on his purposes. increase "in the reading, with enjoyment Where appropriate, he considers the and understanding, of the great works of essays and short stories, showing cross­ English literature." This study definitely currents between the shorter fiction and the fulfills this goal in respect to Lawrence. novels. The chronological format of the Niven's style is refreshingly lively and the study gives valuable insights into Law­ book spurs the reader on to become more rence's development. familiar with Lawrence's works.

With the exception of the first two versions of Lady Chatterley's Lover and of Jenny Michaels The Boy in the Bush, all the novels are represented at length here. The longest section deals with and , the centerpieces of Lawrence's art. Particularly useful is the much needed reassessment of Lawrence's more neglected novels. Niven stresses their importance in Lawrence's overall development as well as BARD H. BARKER, ED. their intrinsic value as novels, despite their Emile Zola: Correspondance, I shortcomings. In his chapter on The White (1858-1867) Peacock, for example, Niven shows the Montreal: Les Presses de l'Uni­ important links between Lawrence's first novel and the mature novels yet argues versité de Montréal and Les convincingly that this novel has a sturdy Editions du Centre National de la independence of its own. In his essay on Recherche Scientifique, 1978. , Niven criticizes the lack of Pp. 594. $40.00 consistency in the novel but argues that it is a watershed in Lawrence's development since it shows him wrestling with the new discoveries of beginning maturity. This is the first volume of a great edition which will reach ten volumes and According to Niven, the "travel" novels which will require more than a decade to show Lawrence struggling with new direc­ complete; it will contain a very high per­ tions in his art. In , Lawrence's centage of the letters Zola wrote between scrutiny of provincial morality soon changes 1858 and the year of his death, 1902. It into a sexual and metaphysical psychology promises to be far more than the usual that goes far beyond his models of Bennett edition of a correspondence: like the and Galsworthy. The sense of unrooted- epoch-making edition of Zola's Oeuvres ness in Aaron's Rod reflects Lawrence's own complètes by Henri Mitterand for the restlessness and despair and depicts the Cercle du Livre Précieux, it will aim at purposelessness of the world as Lawrence being as complete as any such publication perceived it then. Above all, Niven urges can ever be. Not only will it contain most a reassessment of , arguing that of Zola's letters, but, in addition the editors this novel has more unity than critics have aim to produce something very much like generally recognized. He also discusses an encyclopedia of material surrounding

Brief Mentions 179 the letters. This first volume gives some movement, and those who persuaded the idea of the enormous amount of work Canada Council and the Centre National that the team of Canadian, French, and de la Recherche Scientifique to support it American scholars have contributed and have done us all a signal service. It is a some hint of the huge expense of the total shame, some think, that no institution Correspondance, which is being financed in in France would fully back this enterprise, large part by the Canada Council, with which does so much for one of France's some help from the CNRS. most glorious sons. But it is greatly to the credit of the Canadian people that it was The present volume, after a fine preface their country which made possible not only by Henri Mitterand, the driving force of the the organization of the active and spirited whole project in its first years and still Zola Programme of the University of very active in it, contains a biography of Toronto, whence this edition derives, but Zola in his early years, up to the time of that it made possible a publication which Thérèse Raquin, most complete and per­ will be a model for all future editions. ceptive; a useful—and unique—historical introduction to the period, a chronological concordance juxtaposes the events of Robert J. Niess Zola's life with the external events of the epoch. The letters, 210 of them, come next, complete with the most detailed and handy notes which are followed by a bibli­ ography of books and articles pertaining to Zola's early life and career; after these come biographical notices, thumbnail FREDERICK G. PETERS sketches of Zola's correspondents at this Robert Musil, Master of the Hovering time in his life, then there are a descrip­ tion of the chief periodicals of the time, Life: A Study of the Major Fiction an index of all the works by Zola cited in New York: Columbia University this volume, and an index of all those Press, 1978. Pp. 286. $16.50. correspondents and others mentioned in the letters.

The letters themselves are perhaps a Peters's study both pleases and irritates. little less good than the edition, which is a The latter reaction is due in part to the fact real monument, one of the great publish­ that the book grew out of a doctoral ing events of our century in the domain of thesis. The investigation shares one trait nineteenth-century French studies. Zola common to academic theses which emerge was not a great correspondent, neither as as born-again books. The compulsion to noble nor as appealing as Flaubert, not as cover everything relevant in encyclopedic clever as Gide, not as intellectual as thoroughness at times wearies and dis­ Sainte-Beuve or as universal as Voltaire. tracts from the valid argument Peters But he was a very good correspondent develops. nonetheless: his letters are clear, pointed, well composed, solid and complete, though The introductory chapter, after a they are not usually very long. Already balanced sketch of Robert Musil's life, some of his typical attitudes and qualities posits the thesis that Musil attempted in are evident: his seriousness, his somewhat his fiction to create a new morality for formal approach to others, his reserved modern man lost in the vacuum of values. but courteous tone, his angular hardness Fiction alone for Musil seemed able "to of mind, his love of discussion, debate and hover" over all aspects of modern frag­ theory. In these letters he is not yet a great mented life, according to Peters. A cogent man, but they show that he is a great man justification for the investigation which in the making. studies Musil's fiction from philosophical and psychological perspectives is next And this edition is a worthy tribute to developed. Musil's antipathy toward psy­ him as well as a worthy complement to choanalytic study of his life and works is Henri Mitterand's edition of the Oeuvres duly noted, but Peters carefully argues that computes. All those who formed the policy Musil whether writing on the level of and devised the plans for it have con­ metaphor (read: "mysticism") or of reason tributed much not only to our knowledge was sensitive and true to psychological of a man but of a period and a literary reality.

180 The International Fiction Review, 6, No. 2 (1979)