BOOKS of travel, and, more especially, those little volumes of impressionistic essays on foreign lands, are often more revealing of the author's personality than of the strange lands and queer people he meets on the way. Here, we are amused and interested in Mr. Guedalla's skill as a virtuoso of the pen. As always, he is witty and charming; and with penetrating analysis he gives a lucid picture of the South American scene. But the fact that he is writing about South America is only incidental. It is the charming Mr. Guedana we are interested in, and insofar as the Argentine landscape is tinctured with his point of view and used as a basis for his digressions, the book is distinctive and worth reading.

It takes more experience than can be gained as a member of a good-will tour meeting city fathers and making speeches at banquets to get beyond the superficial aspects of any environment. A book which bites deep into the core of a country's spirit must be written by a man with insight and sympathy, and, above all, long familiarity with his subject. W. H. Hudson lived in Patagonia as a child and knew the Pampas through and through, even if Guedalla does accuse him of making it a vast bird sanctuary. Lafcadio Hearn knew Japan in the same way. Mr. Guedalia understands the implications of the Monroe Doctrine. He is careful to point out the advantages of the Argentine's economic dependence on Great Britain, which is best strengthened by the indulgence of the beef eating Englishman. In fact, his wit is considerably circumscribed because he is on an official commission, and is forced to limit his barbed wit to thrusts at the Damnyanke and the wily French. Because of these impediments to the Communication of sensations out of his own sphere, Sterne would call him but an inquisitive traveller for his sentimental digressions and adventures are too much confined by his official role.

Argentine Tango is in no sense as big a book as "Wellington." The material runs thin, and might even be called superficial, except that these travel sketches are always so well drawn and prove so diverting. Guedalla has not lost his sharp wit nor his ability to portray lucidly. He has done a competent piece of work with difficult and rather unsatisfactory material.