FIVE NOVELS

Sir Osbert Sitwell's long introduction is partly critical and biographical, and limns a fine character sketch of Firbank; it offers an excellent springboard to this collection of his five novels. For a new generation of readers, The Artificial Princess, The Flower Beneath The Foot, Concerning The Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli, Valmouth and Prancing Nigger display their technical skill in dialogue and description, their sophisticated wit, their utterly absurd characters which made Firbank a favorite with a very special audience in the '20's. Their esoteric qualities, the general effect of pointlessness will limit the appeal to today's audience but those with a taste for precious writing and sharp social comedy will have a pleasant discovery.