Ithuriel's Hour, by Joanna Cannan. Doubleday, Doran & Co., New York, 1932. Pp. 306, with colored illustration and key plan. $2.50.

This novel of a Himalayan first ascent carried out by an English party will intrigue the generality of mountaineers. In many ways reminiscent of Mason’s “Running Water” and the Mt. Everest volumes, it paints a strong if ironic picture of a determined and ruthless character whom no difficulty can turn from his objective. As is usually the case with such books, the less said about the moral, both in a mountaineering and in a general sense, the better. The neophyte triumphs while the experienced climbers succumb after getting him over the hard places.