SOURCE: "Norman Douglas," in Previous Convictions, Hamish Hamilton, 1963, pp. 224-26.

Connolly was a very influential English critic, nonfiction writer, and literary journal editor. In the following positive review of Old Calabria, he praises Douglas's talents as a travel writer.

This would seem to be the first edition of Old Calabria for twenty-five years. It belongs to the great tradition of English travel books: it is more solid than all the author's other work, and may well be that for which he is longest remembered.

It is introduced by Mr. John Davenport, who has some robust and original comments to make on the author. I knew him quite well myself, though I do not suppose I penetrated far beneath the surface. He was a happy man and though, I expect, very selfish, he managed to make others feel happy. This serene, ironic gaiety was not a pose nor did...