"We Have Been Warned."

By Naomi Mitchison.

Those who expect nothing more than another polished story of ancient Greece or Rome from this author will be woefully disappointed in this book. Instead of being able to browse in the Ancient World, they will find themselves being drawn into a provocative story of the present time. It is not only a novel with a modern setting, but one which is also a keen analysis and trenchant criticism of the social and political trends of to-day. Where before we have been astounded at Mrs. Mitchson's "classical" knowledge, we now find that her knowledge of contemporary political and socialogical developments is equally thorough.

This book will prove of special interest to the student in that it expounds at some length the Varsity interpretation of the radical viewpoint. It is the story of a woman, who as the wife of an Oxfored don and Parliamentary contestant in the cause of Labour, conscientiously tries to associate herself with the Labour movement. That is to say, it is the case of a woman brought up in comfortable, academic circles (here one cannot but associate the character with Naomi Mitchison herself) theoretically convinced that the social system is anachronistic and unjust, and of her endeavours to align herself with those whose knowledge of social injustice has been obtained in the embittering school of experience. It is a problem that is presented to nearly all radicals in a University whee the mode of living is essentially bourgeoise. By gradual contact with Communsts, hunger marchers, and Labour leaders, and by the extension of a very genuine sympathy towards their causes, this woman finds herself able to understand and fully appreciate the proletarian outlook.