LITERARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 288, 11 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

LITERARY NOTES.

A revised addition of Henley's poems, embracing all that is best in the 'Book of Verses' and 'London Voluntaries,' is among the Christmas announcements by David Nutt. Since the little daughter and only child— to whom he was passionately attached—died some years ago, W. E. Henley's muse seenis to have withered. At least if he has written maftjr po6ihs they haven't been published. For thithe world is distinctly the poorer. Men—especialljr young men—glory in Henley's verse. Kipling read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested it to some tune. In all his best things one can trace the influence of William Ernest Henley. The latter of course was thi first to realise the power of the 'Barrack-room Ballads' and to offer them sanctuary in his columns. In return Kipling became and still remains the older poet's devoted admirer. The idea for 'The Finest Story in the World,' which many consider his most successful imaginative effort was based On one of Henley's 'Echoes,' beginning— 'Or ever the knightly years were gone With the old world to the grave, I was a King in Babylon, And you were a Christian slave.'

Sarah Grand has hitherto been so felicitous in the matter of titles that a prevision of disappointment hangs over 'The Beth Book,' as her forthcoming novel is feebly christened; The name arises we are told out of the heroine's name—Elizabeth —and the authoress gave it a good deal of consideration before deciding thereon. The story relates the experiences of a child who becomes a woman of genius. Let us at once perpetrate the too obvious jokelet, and express a hope tliat this book may be the Beth and Grandeth the author has given us.

The improved reviewing and increasing space devoted to books and booK chat by the penny and half-penny daily papers has naturally exercised » maleficent influence on the power oi the 'Times' in the world of letters, and 'the thunderer can no longer now •make or break a reputation in an article as it used to do. This fact has no doubt influenced Mr Moberly Hen in his decision to give the aegis oi Printing House Square to Mr Traill s new venture, 'Literature,' a lveekiy paper to be devoted to books only. It will be printed by and issued irom the 'Times' office, and undertakes to deal with all notable books withinthree weeks of their publicationWhat with the 'Athenaeum, ™* 'Academy,' the 'Bookman,' the Saturday Review,' the 'Speaker,' and tne 'Spectator,' the competition for publishers' advertisements is npw torer ably acute, and Mr Traill will nave w display real originality and in§f"£9l if 'Literature' is to 'catch on. J-"* own name and that of the Times should, however, give him a good sew Off. J ~ _, ~ -j^l **