Books: Colonial Adulteress

THE GENERAL'S LADY—Esther Forbes— Harcourt, Brace ($2.50).

Esther Forbes's four novels (O Genteel Lady!, Paradise, etc.) have been full of romantic literary tricks. In spite of this they have been eminently successful in drawing a persuasive picture of colonial New England. Descended from pioneer Massachusetts stock, saturated from childhood with tales of colonial history told by her parents, both ardent historians, Author Forbes has a liking for portraying warm-blooded New England women whose passions clashed with Puritan convention.

The General's Lady, a sort of colonial version of the Judd Gray-Ruth Snyder case, tells...