"ENGLISH BIBLE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

"ENGLISH BIBLE"

"The English Genius" is described as "a survey of the English achievement and character." The idea arose, it is explained in the introduction, out of a project for an Knglish Bible "which should contain, in extracts from our poets, historians, lawyers, scientists and so on, an expression of our national character and achievement comparable with that contained in the Hebrew Bible." Fourteen distinguished writers furnish essays on the distinctively English contribution to, for instance, religion, law, warfare, poetry and painting. Mr. Brian Ltinn has a particularly interesting contribution on English Nonconformity, "which has a character as peculiarly national as the British Constitution, or the public school system or the Anglican Church itself."

Mr. Hesketh Pearson writes interestingly on English humour, giving a number of examples, notably from Sydney Smith. "Speaking in favour of the proposition that St. Paul's Cathedral should be surrounded by a wooden pavement, he said: 'Let the Dean and Canons lay their heads together and the thing will be done.' "

"The English Genius," edited by Hugh Kingsmill. (Eyre and Spottiswoode.)