A Dash of Fine Arts, Geology, and Fiction

"CHANCES", A. Hamilton Gibbs' latest novel, made its appearance this summer and has been holding an important place ever since in the list of the season's not too serious fiction. It is the story of two English boys, their school-days in France, life in pre-war London and the war, which breaks out in time to relieve the strain of discovering that they both love the same girl.

Mr. Gibbs, who is a member of the literary family headed by Sir Phillip, has written at least one novel better than this present offering. In all honesty, "Chances" in no way comes up to his post-war study, "Labels". That does not mean the story of Tom and Jack Ingle-side is not entertaining reading; because it certainly is way and ahead of most of the light fiction that will be wrapped up in tissue paper and red ribbon this Christmas.

The novel, which in part seems to be based on the author's own experiences, is written with the sure touch of a skillful story-teller who deals with a theme he is fitted to handle with the unmistakable mark of sincerity. Although Mr. Gibbs has been living for some time in America, "Chances" is English to the last idiom of British slang. It belongs in the general category of novels that deal with the reserved, sensitive, pipe-smoking boys who were England's junior officers in France. Those readers who enjoy hearing about the boys "playing cricket" at the front line will be willing to take "Chances" with Mr. Gibbs.