SUMMER IN PROVENCE

The author's latest (earlier titles include The First Time I Saw Paris, 1961, p.847, J-287) does not contain much insight into a foreign country or many descriptions of its sights and scenes, as do her earlier books. After conveniently willing off the parents and eliminating confusing intervention of close relatives, the author launches into a far-fetched story of Emily and her proud brother Simon, both in their late teens or thereabouts. Their summer in Provence consists of association with a mysterious child, Maryvette (the child's pearl-like quality is never explained), a few romances, and three expected marriages. It is all disjointed and oorly plotted; the false dream world aura which hangs over all is abruptly withdrawn toward the end, without explanation.