Abstract

Fiction Briefs

This article presents information on various books. The book "Steppenwolf," by Hermann Hesse, is about a German journalist disillusioned by the war, treated as a traitor by his former friends, deserted by his family, becomes an outcast and develops, as the outcome of his conviction that he is half-man, half-wolf, a suicidal mania. In the book "The Wings of the Eagle," by Gilbert Seldes, the writer shows that he is well along toward the mastery of plot and structure and not so far along in characterization. He realizes almost every opportunity that his idea and intention suggest. The incidents are well chosen and timed, but the figure of the hero, of the social idealist, the man of vision, the leader who lacks foresight and insight is dull.