Ronald Firbank

by Miriam J. Benkovitz. Knopf, $6.95. If Firbank had any personal life, in the sense of actions or emotions apart from those directly concerned with the writing of his highly individual, erratically brilliant books, Miss Benkovitz has either not been able to discover it (unlikely, since she appears to combine the best talents of beaver and bloodhound) or is restrained by the libel laws from discussing it. It is distressing to have a biographer lavish so much conscientious toil on a subject who lingers resolutely in shadow.