BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Previous Hutton volumes have compelled respect for their grave, spacious loveliness and admiration for an occasional set-piece composition. Here, illustrating a story with strong scenic values (the father's arrival at the dark avenue of trees in a storm, his encounter with the Beast in the garden), and with great need of emotional reserve (the Beast mus inspire awe and pity, Beauty mustn't be a belle), he has achieved a dramatic power that makes for compelling page-turning. The text, as in the case of other Hutton works (the exception is Susan Cooper's retelling of The Silver Cow), is relatively lame; but as a condensed version of the story, keyed to the facing, full-page pictures, it will serve. There is fine use also of wordless picture-spreads: for the dark avenue ""with a small light limmering at the end,"" for the idyllic (Moorish) terrace and garden where Beauty spends happy if lonely days, and finally for Beauty's discovery of the Beast, spread out on the ground and ""scarcely breathing."" Formality, quietude, and devotion suit Hutton, and he's made this Beauty and the Beast visually interesting for those familiar with the story too. It would indeed be a version for young romancers to leaf through.