Dilemmas

France, England, South America, the Mediterranean, are the background for A. E. W. Mason’s magical tales of drama and horror. From the story of what lovely Joan Winterbourne saw from the window of the old house near Caen on the night of the Studio Ball to the story of “The Wounded God” ending in that strange, loud splash in the darkness by the little French stream and the young, clear, vibrating voice calling “Run! Run!”—they are impregnated with color and atmosphere and tense drama. The book closes with two thrilling incidents from the World War. What really happened that pale morning when Mata Hari was led to the post to face a firing squad, is a revelation of femininity both haunting and appalling. The other story concerns the cruise of the Virgen del Socorro, an incident of humour and pathos fought out on the choppy waters of the Channel.