"The Shadow of thie Swastika"

 HITLER'S RISE.

"The Shadow of thie Swastika" by A. L. Lloyd and Igor Vinogradof,

London: John Lane, 5/-. From the publisher.

"THE Shadow of the Swastika" is the script of the British Broadcasting Corporation's most memorable venture in radio drama. An introduction by the authors recites the circumstances under which the work was undertaken and the measures that were adopted by them in association with the BB.C. to ensure that their work would faithfully portray the German scene from the end of the world war of 1914-18 to the Polish invasion.

This play which reads like a Greek tragedy was presented to British listeners in eight programmes by a cast of 60 characters. Some doubt was entertained at the outset as to the acceptability of this dramatisation of recent German his tory but according to the B.B.C. interestin it never once flagged but actually became keener as the drama in which Adolf Hitler is the central figure is unfolded. The Fuehrer is never for long

off the stage where he exhibits himself and is exhibited by his satellites as the Mephistopheles of the play. This historical drama is the story of the Nazi movement and of the life of the man who has so diabolically in spired it with his world-wrecking philosophy. The essentially different conditions governing the legitimate stage and that of the radio, suggest that the B.B.C. script of "The Shadow of the Swastika"would need to undergo substantial re- vision before it could be successfully adapted for presentation by any other medium. Here, however, is material enough for a dozen stage dramas, not the least sensational of which would be one revolving round the Reichstag fire and the famous trial.