NOT BUILT WITH HANDS

A Watch in the Night almost won the ulltzer Prize last Spring (it was the novel on which the committee split you remember). This is the new novel by the same author, and again a book with a Catholic background. The story deals with the struggle between Empire and Papacy during the 11th century, dramatized and localized in the story of Matilda, Countess of Tuscany, at whose castle in Canossa, the Pope, Gregory VII. Forgives Henry IV, who has stood barefoot in the snow of her courtyard. The book is too long, and often tedious; not likely to be of interest to students for supplementary reading, nor to the general reader for entertainment, although there is much good writing and a good description of foudal days. Buy carefully. Strong Catholic interest. Valuable for large public libraries.