Life, 1928-11-30 · page 31 of 52
Life — November 30, 1928 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features Arthur Guiterman's rhymed review of Virginia Woolf's novel *Orlando* (published 1928). The review mockingly summarizes the book's fantastical premise: a character who lives across centuries, changing sex from man to woman, and encounters various historical figures (Queen Elizabeth I, James I, Charles II, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, Edward VII). Guiterman's satire targets the novel's experimental modernism and what he views as its self-indulgent whimsy. While acknowledging the book receives critical praise ("East and West"), he dismisses it as tedious—"heavy chunks of wistful whimseys" that made him "yawn." His complaint about the three-century writing timeline for "The Oak Tree" mocks what he sees as pretentious literary excess. The satire works for modern readers as period literary criticism: Guiterman represents traditionalist taste finding Woolf's boundary-breaking narrative bewildering and self-important, a common contemporary reaction to modernist fiction's formal experimentation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FCHOES Suvot sd Argent ROGER &@ CALLET PARIS © Roger & Gallet 1928 NEW YORK Orlando By Virginia Woolf Harcourt, Brace & Co. |In fifteen-ninety, more or less, | Orlando, then a gallant stripling, Beguiled the heart of old Queen Bess With eyes of blue and tresses rippling. When James the First was on the throne A Russian princess charmed our hero, But basely left him all alone, Which sent his spirits down to zero. In Charles the Second’s lively reign, His mind and soul no longer murky, He graced the diplomatic train As high ambassador to Turkey. But in the days of good Queen Anne, Orlando, suddenly a lady, Regaled the iierary, clan In tearooms bright and bowers shady. In Queen Victoria’s morningtide She took a matrimonial Ayer— Orlando deigned to be the bride Of M. B. Shelmerdine, Esquire. Her book appeared in Edward's time, And not one critic dared to slight it; “The Oak Tree” must have been sublime; She took three centuries to write it. This whim should make an author call senious; It shows what lives and pains, withal, Are requisite to make one Genius. But though they praise it East and West} Till all the borogroves are mimsy, It made me yawn; I can’t digest These heavy chunks of wistful whim- sey. Arthur Guiterman. SHORT STORY (What has gone before.) The author of a better book or sermon or mouse trap or can opener, and such, had built his house in the woods, and the world was making a beaten path to his door. “1 wish to state,” said he, ‘that my rental rate for hot dog stands is $9 a front foot during the season....The new filling station will be ready for business a week from Sunday.” —Detroit Free Press “IT don't know You OvERHtarp on a corner: what I can do about that ten I owe you.”* might help me worry about it.""—Detroit News MOULDS For Making Toy Soldiers. Indians Cowboys Animalsete With one Mould you can make many HUNDREDS OF CASTINGS, Whole Armies 01 including material nd Ing complete, $4.50. ad great fun for If a ‘soort for mily, Write “Yor tliustrations ot ‘dozsos of fatterns you can MAKE-ATOY COMPANY, toe " Beston Read Dept. jew York City For pistols, ropes and draughts ar-| I —] a new appetizer for you You know how an appetizer tickles your palate and puts zest in a meal. Here's a new kind of appetizer— one that gives added flavor to your favorite smoke—Squibb’s Dental Cream. Squibb’s spruces up your mouth and sweetens your breath. It fights acids and is particularly soothing to irritated tissues. The minute, clinging grains of Milk of Magnesia it contains act as an antacid long after the actual brushing,and coun- teract the cause of furry, bitter smoking tastes. Make Squibb’s Dental Cream a daily habit and you will be taking a lease on a lot of unsuspected smoking enjoyment. 40c at any druggist. Copyright 1928 by E. R. Squibb & Sons DANGER LINE comicbooks.com