EUROPE WITHOUT BAEDEKER

Things seen and heard by the author-critic, in 1945 travels to London, Rome, Milan, Athens, Delphi, Crete, Naples. The sketches emphasize the disintegration of the spiritual and moral values, the badly muddled international relations, the worse muddle of ameliorative projects, the ruins of European civilization.... There are conversations, incidents, interviews, in general; specifically in artistic media, with theatre, art, music and literature, of intensely personal appeal. There is an unusual visit with Santayana, much of Malraux, of Silone, of new writers, themes. There are portraits of Russian exiles, British officials, communists, socialists, royalists, symbolizing the trends of their countries. The author- in measured, often seductive prose, makes a telling, thoughtful profile of the places visited, the people seen, and leaves in the mind a distressing picture to contemplate....On Wilson's name, this will get more sober consideration than another reporter might secure.