Orientations

"Orientations" has cleverness both in conception and expression that puts it at once in the category of "books to be asked for," and the occasional touches of humor and satire make the contents all the more piquant reading. Spanish all over, both ethically and socially, is the tale called, "The Punctiliousness of Don Sebastian," and one seems to see the town of Xiormones, where only two trains stop in the course of the day, and they within three hours of each other. Anyone who attempts nowadays to put the precepts of the Gospel into literal execution, as Mr. Clinton did in "A Bad Example," must expect to bring the house about his ears; but the amusing thing is that not only wife and doctor, but the clergyman set him down for a madman. From his minister, at least, Mr. Clinton might have looked for sympathy. How difficult, indeed impossible, it is to prevent a Platonic friendship from drifting into love when the parties are young and sympathetic, is seen in "De Amicitia." Relying upon her American training, Valentia thought it the most natural thing possible to take Ferdinand with her on her sketching tour in Holland, and it is characteristic of the Englishman that of the two he alone raised objections. Of course, before they had been three weeks at Monnickendam, they were "head and ears over!" "Faith," although distressing, preaches unconsciously a lesson of charity. Despite occasional bathos, "The Choice of Amyntas" is exquisitely fanciful and, comes near to suggesting Voltaire or even Disraeli. The last story, "Daisy." is dramatic, cruelly cynical if you will, and terribly convincing. W. Somerset Maugham was evidently proud of his versatility, for each story is conspicuous by its difference from the others in style, coloring, purpose, and effect. Moreover, in each of them we defy anyone to foresee what is coming, for their author is a master of the unexpected. —The publishers of this edition...