Books: Round & Round

THE FAMILY CIRCLE—Andre Maurois —Appleton.

Though eclipsed by many another French writer, in the opinion of many a big and little wig, Andre Maurois (real name: Emile Herzog) stands first in the eyes of a majority of his countrymen, is now generally regarded as France's foremost living writer. Readers who eschew the unsteady brilliance of Jean Cocteau, the cold amorality of Andre Gide, turn with relief to the sympathetic charm, the Judaic kindliness, of Author Maurois. His ironic fire, at its fiercest only kindled laughter, never burnt anyone. An unembarrassing writer, his...