of murder, suicide, or fatal accident, the last a sop perhaps to the present state of public opinion. The present work follows this pattern and gives only the slightest hint of a possible, satisfactory outcome. Its function seems to be rather to give understanding of the persons who are homosexuals and to drive home the view that they are neither neurotics (that is, mentally ill) nor evil (that is, perverts) nor are they any more liable to crime than any other group. They are simply

one of nature's variations so common and unremarked in other fields. Fabrizio is made to say in characteristic Latin fashion: "If they

nail you to the cross, two angels clothed in white will lower you from the cross. And you yourself, in such a circumstance, must know how to make of yourself a liberating angel for the rest: for all those who suffer for their devotion to love." (p. 306) This sentiment the author in his introduction makes the theme of all his own work. The book will undoubtedly become a classic in its field. It is expressed with a beauty and charm which, in spite of a general diffuseness of style, holds the attention of the reader throughout. The Spanish translation is a work of art in its own right.

LA LUNGA NOTTE di SINGAPORE (The Long Night of Singapore) By Bernardino di Tegerone. Gastaldi Editore in Milano, Italy, 1952, 190 pp. Price 600 Lire.

This prize-winning novel from Italy, according to its author, while frankly fictional, is based upon materials gathered in interviews in Siam, Malaya, and Indonesia covering the subject of homosexuality and looking forward to a fourth volume of the Kinsey Report. The book is written as the presumed diary of a young writer living in his own house in Singapore after having traversed a considerable part of the world since he had left Italy. He has a particular desire to visit Siam and does so but returns to Singapore where the greater part of the action takes place. I have said action, but the progression of the plot, such as it is, lies in the subjective and spiritual evolution of the youth who is restless and disturbed without knowing just why, although he sometimes has intuitions of the

one

truth. Ultimately he comes to understand himself and accept his nature as homosexual. The underlying position of the author, who is obviously familiar with the literature of the subject, is wholesome and sound. Homosexuality is not an illness nor a neurosis except in so far as it is made so by the malevolence of a hostile society. It is indeed refreshing to read a novel in the field where the solution is neither suicide, murder, nor other tragedy, but perhaps the only genuine and realistic solution that a homosexual can hope for: a permanent and mutually satisfying companionship. I suspect that only a Latin could write a book such as the present one wherein poetic sensitivity to the lush tropical scene, psychological insight, and stark realism are so happily blended.

30