Front Our Literary Editor Roman Fountain is the name of Hugh Walpole's spring publication. It is the story of that famous novelist's visit to Rome at the time of Pope Pius XI's death and Pope Pius XTI's coronation.
Outwardly, the publishers (Macmillan) tell us, Roman Fountain is a vivid description of papal ceremonies and papal personages that have never been so minutely described before. But the real interest of the book lies in the author's search for an answer to a spiritual question. " Every event, figure, captured and uncaptured beauty takes part in this quest. . . . The effect of the book is threefold—the realistic interest of the papal ceremonies, the mysterious, lovely atmosphere of the Roman scene, and the inner history of the author's search for spiritual certainties," says the publishers' blurb.
Roman Fountain will be ready on March 12 and will cost 8s. 6d.