SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1921 THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE
"Three Soldiers" in Judge, has such ture." He regrets the fact that the a matter of fact, he was neither of If this is, indeed, the author's pur-
a good time snickering to himself novel will probably' he discussed as these, as The Nation's critics make pose, he has fulfilled it well. It is
over the author's funny name that he propaganda rather than literature. clear. He was merely a hypersensi- noticeable that all the critics, no mat-
doesn't get time to offer much criti- "To build up an argument against the tive, artistic soul who, through no
cism. lie does say, however, that A. E. F. and the conduct of the war conscious disloyalty, hated the army ter ii what manner they disagree with
"There is no question of its sincerity. out of materials like these is mani- and all the restrictions it placed upon Dos Passos, admit that he can write.
It is the hurt, angry cry of a fine soul festly absurd." In summing up his his individuality. He was impractical, That his story is typical, or aims to
who has felt the crush of the military estimate, Mr. Canby says, "It is by no a visionary sort of a fellow who would be typical, I think none of them be-
stamper. We heartily recommend it means a perfect book, but it is a very have failed anywhere, and naturally lieve. Yet such things as he relates
to the disarmament conference." engrossing bne, a first-hand study, enough he makes a failure of war.
i not only could have happened ut
Although he has not yet publicly finely imagined and powerfully creat- The "Three Other Soldiers" also
criticized the book, II. L. Menken is ed. Its philosophy we may dismiss as point out that "Mr. Dos Passos's book probably did happen in some instances.
quoted by the publishers as saying incomplete; its conception of the free is not a chamber of ordinary horrors He has told them passionately and
that it is the best book yet written soul tortured, deadened, diseased by and so as a war novel it lacks the with a great deal of technical and
about the war by an American. the circumstances of war, we cannot appeal that civilians ordinarily expect. artistic skill. In so doing, he has
In reviewing "Three Soldiers" for dismiss. It is convincing, even though By suppressing combat scenes the created a book which is a piece of
The New Republic, Francis Hackett partial." author clearly shows that his emphas-
handles the novel more from an ethi- I think of all the criticism I have is is intentionally on character s art. Regardless of question of the
cal than a literary standpoint. lie sees read of this novel, that by "Three affected by circumstances-particu- verity of the subject matter, the book
it primarily as an argument against Other Soldiers" in The Nation comes larly by those scenes of crazing mon- will, I believe, long outlive the criti-
ctonscription. "It is," he says, "this closest to a true understanding and otony behind the lines." cism against it.
vileness of conscription that gives so appreciation of Mr. Dos Passos's book.
much force to 'Three, Soldiers' The Waving aside "Three Soldiers" as a
A. E. F. contained its high proportion document, they say "it is first of all
of young men who should never have a competent work of art, dealing as
been soldiers. But as one sees the any work of art must do with a special Sha p i It e f
machine working the marvel is that case, the case of John Andrews, third
so much rebellious spirit was retained and most important of three soldiers
in this seething novel. And that, after' ruined in France. John Andrews waswv
all, is the best part of it. Mr. Dos not an average soldier any more than
Passos's young man is indubitably amlet was an average prince. HeA smooth, keen edge is provided
self-centered, morbid, bitter, but his was an exquisitely educated youth, a
resistance is a fine thing. If great musician who promised to be a com- for each and every shave with the
states cannot launch grea't' wars un- poser; he was hypersensitive; he was Valet AutoStrop Razor without
less they mobilize public opinion, then .incapable of philosophy or humor in
the sooner we iearn to realize that critical places; and he was only twen- constant blade expense.
our one hope of freedom is variety of ty-two. He had no more place in the A trial will convince you.
independent opinion the better '' slaughter-house of the Western Front
But it is in two other New York than Hamlet had in a primitive and Come in and borrow, a
publications that one may find the ruffian court. The truth of the book
most comprehensive and dispassion- is the truth for Andrews and not for Valet AudoStrop Razor for 30 days-the trial
ately analytic reviews. These papers those coarser souls who may have
are The Literary Review of The New enjoyed the war and who now declare is r and does not obligate you.
York Post and The Nation. that Mr. Dos Passos has insulted the An off r of this kind has never been made in connec-
Henry Seidel Canby, editor of The A. . F."
Literary Review. says "'Three Sol- Here these critics strike on a point tion with any other razor and is more convincing proof
diers' is the first American war boots which all the other reviewers have ap- of the merit of the Valet AutoStrop Razor than any
written with suiticient passion andi parently overlooked. The others called
vividnes of detail to count as litera- Andrews "yellow" and "spineless." As argument we could present.
Cine in and take one with you or write at once.
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