Book Reviews

The Incredible Truth

THE INCREDIBLE TRUTH by Chris

Massie, Random House,

1958

Norman Hereton, son of an English vicar in the small town of Greenmeath, narrates his life history with the help of a large store of personal diaries.

As a very young man he meets and falls in love with Eunice Everard, daughter of the local cynic, a successful magazine publisher. Eunice is wild and undisciplined, extremely beautiful and very attractive to boys. After a couple of escapades involving running away, gambling, etc., her father in de speration offers to build and furnish a lovely home for Norman and Eunice, providing of course that Norman will marry her. Norman accepts eagerly as her untamed nature has only enhanced her in his eyes.

They marry and for a few years manage to be extremely happy. Marriage calms Eunice somewhat and Norman is deeply in love with her although he realizes gradually that she is a beau-

t tiful toy to him rather than a true partner. Into their home comes Valerie Richardson, a friend of Eunice from school days (college level).

At once it becomes apparent to Norman that Valerie is blindly in love with Eunice. He is ready to be repelled and outraged but finds to his own amazement that he is incapable of disliking Valerie, in spite of the complications involved. Valerie is also exceedingly lovely, but in a more refined and classical manner. Although the relationship between the two women becomes increasingly passionate, Norman continues to tolerate, even to enjoy, it. He comes to think of the two women as complimentary halves of s single whole. Eunice so fair and Valerie so dark. At one point Norman (as narrator) poses this thought:

"Sexual normality is as rare as a perfect man or woman,

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