THE BOOKSHELF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF

GREAT GERMAN POET PERSONAL EXPERIENCES The translation of further poems by the great German poet Rainer Maria Rilke under the title 17 Requiem and Other Poems " is doubly welcome because of the many extracts from letters contained in the "life" which*forms the introduction. From these letters it is possible to gain some idea of the poet's beliefs and that for which he was striving, and without this no real understanding of his poems can follow. He was born at Prague of peasant stock, but never seemed to obtain much inspiration from Germany. It was first Russia, then France that brought to him that interpretation of life which deepened understanding. He found in Russia a " country of lonely people, each full of darkness like a mountain, each a world in himself," and he always insists on the value of loneliness to an artist. Russia was always " holy " Russia to him, and although not an orthodox Christian, he always had his own conception of God as the Father of simple, lonely people. Like so many poets, he was deeply concerned with death. Death was not an escape from life, but life was a preparation for death. By the generosity of a friend ho was able to fulfil a long expressed desire of going to Paris, where he became secretary to Rodin, the sculptor. There "observing the activity of the present and feeling the pressure of the past," shocked and overwhelmed by the misery and poverty around him, he was able to see, feel, endure, pursue life into its most subtle implications, and there his genius grew to maturity. The language and form of the poems which follow in the book mean little, for they are translations. Their value lies in their sense, in that they are expressions of personal experience. They are about the poet himself, his thoughts, fears and beliefs. "Memories of experiences are only valuable if they become blood within us, sight and gesture, nameless and no longer distinguishable from ourselves," he says, and that is precisely what Rilke's poems are. Here is no self-conscious poet, member of a school, writing carefully formed lines and phrases according to set plan, but a poet writing from his soul's experiences, with driven pen, writing because his life's blood is in it. Mr. J. B. Leisbam's work both in translation and introduction is beyond criticism. " Requiem and Other Poems," by Bainer Maria Rilke. Translated from German by J. B. Leisham. (Hogarth I'rrsa.)

BLACK MAGIC LOUIS GOLDING'S LATEST In " Camberwell Beauty " Mr. Louis Golding breaks new ground. He forsakes the Jewish world that has inspired him hitherto and makes holiday with butterflies, black magic, and the Mafia. Although his new book is not in his best vein, Mr. Golding is never less than amusing, and if his story is of the tall variety it is one that holds its audience. An Oxford youth marries a, beauty who works in a sweets shop. Together they go to Italy for a honeymoon, and within a few weeks the bride returns, hysterical and broken hearted, and asserts that her young husband has been murdered by one Machatan who practised magic. She pleads that someone will avenge his death, and beauty in distress is sufficient goad to send five people off to Italy on the trail of Machatan.

Leslie Webster, her husband's school friend and Alf Tarleton, an ardent admirer of the bride, are the first two to offer, but they have no money for the journey and little prospect of getting any, so old Arnold Peveril, a butterfly collector is roped in. The three set out and meet with some extraordinary adventures. Old Air. Peveril finds Machatan and the two become so immersed in a butterfly discourse that the real object of their conversation is scarcely touched upon. In the meantime the two boys, Alf and Leslie are kidnapped by the Mafia and the main issue of the book changes from an inquiry into Machatan and his connection with the death of the English boy to endeavour to escape from the power of the Mafia. It is all very exciting if not particularly convincing, but in the end all issues are cleared up most satisfactorily. It is Mr. Golding in holiday humour and very entertain-

»ig- " The Camberwell Beauty," GoltlinK. (Gcllancz.) CLEVER YOUNG WRITER AGE WILL DO MUCH It is a somewhat desperate bid for fame for a new writer to make his how to the public with a book of short stories. There is little demand for such unless the writers have already convinced readers that they can " deliver the goods." The mere fact that experienced and astute publishers have been willing to take a chance provokes curiosity. Mr. l'etcr Chamberlain, the author of " What the Sweet Hell!" turns out to !>c a young man, a very young man who has not outgrown his early physiological imaginings and preoccupations. He has studied carefully, from French, Irish. Russian, in fact from so many model l ' that he has not developed an individual style, but dabbles in them all. His leaning is towanl the French method of setting down an incident which illustrates a nuance of behaviour or unusual trait of character, too slight a form to be called a storv. He is a very brilliant imitator, and without doubt a very clever young man who must be forgiven much because of the hilarious and inconsequential humour of his story " Author," where an incredulous but well-intentioned friend prevents an author from taking the bow on the first night of a stage success. His stories of school, which come within his own experience are also admirable. Age should do a lot for Mr. Chamberlain. It should teach him that cleverness is a snare; thr.t sex always round the corner is a sign of extreme youth or deformity; that best work comes not from cliques, but from individuals, and that a title such as this is a very cheap bid for notoriety. There is much to deplore, but even more to admire in this first book. " Whnt the Sweet Hell!" by Peter Chamberlain. (Chatto and Windus.)