On one level, Private Worlds is a romance whose outcome is never is doubt. On another level, it’s a realistic story of alliances and jealousies in a closed world where the outcomes are unpredictable.
As the story opens, Jane Everett is waiting to hear whether Alex MacGregor has been named superintendent of the mental hospital at which they, respectively, head the men’s and women’s departments.
Jane is disturbed that instead of going first to his bride, Sally, Alex comes to her to say they should quit: The choice has gone to an outsider Alex’s own age who dislikes women doctors.
For Sally’s sake as well as Alex’s, Jane counsels patience.
Jane senses that though the new superintendent appears cold, he is fair and willing to listen. Jane is sure even Alex can work with Dr. Drummond if they give him a fair chance.
Trouble arises when Dr. Drummond’s sexy, manipulative sister comes to visit.
Phyllis Bottome is interested in the self-defeating behaviors of the legally sane. Instead of the horrific mental disturbances presented in The Snake Pit and Compulsion, for example, she gives us homely pictures of irrational thinking to which everyone falls prey.
Private Worlds isn’t a great novel, but its more than just entertainment. Bottome provides readers ideas to chew on.
Private Worlds By Phyllis Bottome Houghton, Mifflin, 1934342 pages
My grade: B+
1934 bestseller #7
© 2014 Linda Gorton Aragoni
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