LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 14

LITERARY.

•The Uncertain Glory," by Molly Thynne (Muthuen and Co.), telk oi the vicissitudes and love affaire of a young artist. The scene is laid.partly in Munich and partly in London, and th© artist is faced by the perplexity *f choosing between two women, when he feels like saying— " ■'How happy could I be ■with either. Were t'other dear charmer away." It is a most readable story, and full of interest. . A very handsome and entertaining volume is that entitled "Deccan Nursery Tales," published at 4/6, by Mewrs. Macmillan and Co., Ltd. The author, , Mr. C. A. Kincaid, of the Indian Civil 'Service, has done his work weH—hie translations from the original Marathi i being done in excellent and lucid Englieh, while in form the stories closely resemble our own fairy tale*. Each of the twenty I tales in this volume begins, "Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat," and a large proportion of them have the j familiar ending, "And they all lived happily ever after." The chief objection to these fairy tales in that, in the words of Mx. Kinaaid, they "have a more religious tinge than thaee of Europe"; , hence they have * tendency to turn youthful minds from the true religion to the fatee gode and etrange ideae of the Hindus. The book has great value, i however, to «tudente of Jfolk-lore. It *> b.nutifally illustrated in colours by a native artist, Sir. V. Dhurandhar. \ A very valuable addition to the little library of books of Nature «tndJe* in N'eiv Zealand and Australia, pnslished by Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Lt<L, i> to hand, in "Friend and Foee in the Australian Bueh," by Edward S. Sorenson. The author has adopted a most attractive style, giving the life history of each bird or animal of which he treate in the i form of -a narrative. By thie means the attention of even the most casual reader is arrested, and one who would have been repelled by the usual scientific terme and descriptions finds himself, almost without knowing it, absorbing * quantity of curious and interesting information regarding the denizeas of the Australian bush. Each of the eighteen stories has its hero or heroine, cuch wm "Jack -the Kookaburra, ,, "Maggie, the Magpie," "Warrigal the Dingo," co that an individual interest is added. The book is artistically produced (pity that it should be marred by a number of typographical errore), and the illustrations by Erneet E. Barker, are well executed —some full-page pictures being beautifully tinted. [ The littl-s • children, who "lightly draw their breath, and feel their life in every limb," what should they know of the tremendous war now raging? That is the question suggested by the title of v book just published by Messrs. Geo. Allen and Unwin, Ltd., Ruekin House, London; but a perusal of the work dispels all fear that infant minds are to be familiarised with the horrors of war. "The Child\> ABC of the War," the letterpress by Geoffrey Whitworth, and the coloured illustrations by Stanley North— is nothing _ more . than an . attractive picture"" book ' ' with" ' "V" couplet for each letter of the alphabet and a picture to each "couplet, all referring to the war in a way to interest little people with "minds innocent and quiet." For example, it etarte with a representation of the Austrian Boyal Arms, and the lines: — "A stands far Austria, wbere first was hurled The bomb that was destined to startle the world." The letter "G" gives us a portrait of King George, "J" of Admiral Jellicoe, and "K." of Lord Kitchener, -while at "X" we have a picture of young Britishere playing at soldiere, with the motto:— "X's for the 'No' that from lips roundlj parted Comes, when we ask oursehres, 'Are we Down-h«art*d?' " In paper covens at 1/, or in cloth at 2/, this children's picture book, besides serving a useful present purpura, may come to be treasured as a memento of tkc great war.

The best-informed and best-written book on the war that has up till now come under our notice is that by Austin Harrison (son of Frederic Harrison, the veteran publicist), entitled "The Kaieer'e War," which was issued in November last by Messrs. Geo. Allen and Unwin, Ltd., Ruekin House, London. The author, who lived eight years in Germany as a newspaper correspondent—'having received h» education in that country—has a knowledge of tire Germans and their methods which ie almost unique, and he te therefore well qualified to give a true insight into the causes of the war and the task that lies tbef ore the Allies. When to thi* it is added that Mr. Harrison has a clear and claesic literary style, it may be understood that this book ie a really well-considered and informative work, the reading of which is a pleasure. The eight chapters into which it ie divided have such titles as "World-Power or Downfall," "The Kaiser's Failures," "Intelligent Brutality," "Our Pan-German fdiots," and 60 forth. Tire chapter headed "The Germin Case Reconstructed" is a clever piece of imaginative work, in which the author describes what may be conceived to have taken place at a War Council attended by the Kaiser and- hie principal advisens, diplomatic, political, naval and military, prior to the historic issue of ultimatums. In another, entitled "The Collapse of Socialism," it is recalled how the Kaiser, early in his career, said, "heave the Socialists to mc; I will settle with them." For once the War Lord did not blunder; he has effectively settled with the German Socialists; for, ac Mr. Harrison shows, at the eound of the drum "the whole edifice of Marx and Lasalle, of Engele and Liebknecht, crumbled down with inglorious precipitancy; there ie not a stone of it remaining." Still it ie admitted that the last word of German Socialists may not yet have been said to the Kaiser—that when the "debacle" eete in there, may be a Communkt war in Germany—"a proletarian rising againet the man and the system responsible for the infamoue German crime againet Germany and civilisation." Aβ for the magnitude of the task of crushing German militarism, Mr. Harrison harbours no illusions. "Though (in November last, remember) there have been fifty battles, each as big as Waterloo, there has so far been no decision. When the Germane fall back, they will probably entrench at Antwerp, Liege, etc., and again on their frontiers; then there will be the line of their fortresses; finally there will he the great etrategie line of the Rhine. . . We must therefore prepare for a slow war— a war of long-drawn-out movements. . .

From the point of view of decisions, the war is only beginning. It ie still a long way to Berlin." The chapter on "Intelligent Brutality" ie a terrible indictment of Kaityorism, and is fitted to make some people believe that Wilhelm IT. is the veritable Man of Sin, instead of the ( patron, friend and ally of the Almighty.

Messrs. Methuen and ■ Co. have published a handsome book, "Famous Land Fights," as a companion volume to "Famous Sea Fights." It is written by Mr. A. Hilliard Atteridge, and gives a description and review of the principal battles of history, from the days of Alexander the Great until now. The style ie lucid and attractive, and there are •' number of illustrations and diagrams that explain the strategy of various battles.

.Written on conventional lines, but racy and readable withal, fe "A Man's Life is Different,, or the Sleeping Flame," by Maud H. Yardley (Greening and Co.'s Empire Library). It is the etory of the -lift tragedy of Virginia Roanoke and Clifford Carrick, with the well-known accompaniments.of actors, musicians, and co forth, with their Bohemian ways and open disregard, of the conventions. In a secondary eenae, the tragedy of Myra Carrick forms an integral part of the etory—on the Whole a sad story, but with unerring faithfulness to human nature.

Keadere who enjoy an exciting war fitory, with the usual spice of love and mystery, will find what they desire in "Broken Shackles," by John Oxenham (Mcthuen and Co.) This is a tale of the Franco-Pruesi&n war of 1870-71, and deals' more especially with the fortunes of the. |Comte de Valle, a captain of the Frencharmy, known later as Constant Duval, and finally ac Herr Bayr, a wealthy saw-" miller and leading citizen of the Brunnen Thai in Switzerland. The novel presents a vivid picture of certain phaees of the historic war, showing how the French were the victims of divided counsels and defective organisation. Apart - from - ito wai interest, "Broken Shackles" is a fine piece of fiction.

,As an entertaining light novel, The Flute of .Vrcady," by Kate Horn (Stanley PauTe Empire Library) can be warmly recommended. It deals with the plot of two young people to secure their «wn end* by entangling their guardian* in a romantic adventure. The etory is told with all Miss Horn's poweie of humour and clever characterisation, and a spice of possible malice is conveyed by the author's note, assuring the reader that t3to characters and incidents in the tale are all imaginary, and that no reflection is intended upon "any living pemon, or any public body or company." Pteople will naturally asik, 'If not, why the not*? Qui s'excuse •"accuse!"

Of the writing of detective stories there is no end, if one may be'allowed to parody the wise King of Israel. One of the latest is "Diana of the Moors," by Txmis Tracy (Caseell and Co., Ltd.). It is a tale of the Yorkshire moors, and of the mysterious and violent death of a young nobleman while hunting. Diana Fenton, who discovers the -body, and Walter Hardy (a scientist, conducting experiments in steel-making), to wihom she communicates the alarming news, figure largely in the etory, and in the end 'they are the principal actors at the wedding which ende every romance. Before that happens, however, there are many complications, with Hardy acting as amateur detective, while the local superintendent of police and two experts from Scotland Yard also have a try at the unravelling of the murder mystery. "Diane of the Moore" is an exciting and well-constructed novel.

"4. Study of the Artifitic Temperament" is the sub-title of the novel' ''Thistles," bj Coralie Stanton and Heabh Ilosken (Messrs. Stanley Paul and Co.). Of counse, the artistic temperament means queer ideae concerning sexual and marital relations, but this etory has in it much bpfiides a study of sex. It ie rich in motion, in adventure and mystery. But, withal, the main "motif" deals with ilove and matrimony. Wenyon Craddock, despite the fact that he ie a great and euccessiul novelist, is reepectably maTried, but there is the usual unhappinese. due to the other man and th« other woman. Then, when Mrs. Craddock is dead, we find the widower consoling himself with Norah Murchiston, his enstv.'Jiile typiete, and offering her marriage without love—"only as a dear friend, a eister -eoul." And she "underetands," and accept* him—"the artist man who, for his eelf-«xpression, needed this woman who understood." One hae a β-oepicion that the "faint smile" with which he silently receives her assent is really a self-satieQed smirk; but one dismisses the unworthy idea and resta secure in the thought that marriage without love may, after all, be preferable to the usual "artistic" conception of love without marriage.

It may be eafely asserted of 'Incredible Adventures," by Algernon Blackwood, that In epite of the alluring title and the high literary character of the book, it will never be popular. There are five of these adventures, told under the reepective titles of "The Regeneration of Lord Ernie," "The Sacrifice," "The Damned," "A Descent Into Egypt," and •'Wayfarers." They are not real adventures, "for, in the woTde of one of the characters, "nothing ever happens"; they nearly all deal with mental experiences or hallucinations. The firet etory is the best, for something happens in it, in connection with a community of fire-wor-ehippere in the Swiee Alps. Aβ for the other tales, they are curious excursions into certain branches of the occult Mr. Blackwood having apparently imbibed eonre Theosophical fancies which he has attempted, with a vast amount of beautiful word-epinning, to convey to his readers. Those who like that sort of thing will be delighted; but the number is inconsiderable. The book is published by Messrs. Macmillan *nd Co., Ltd.

It is mther difficult to determine whether or not "Wild Justice" is the fate meted out to the chief actors in the novel by Frances Clare, published by Mr. Andrew Melrose, London, of which we 'have received a copy from the Geo. Robertson and Co. Proprietary, Ltd. The love story of Paula Markham and Anthony Bellairs is one co far out of the common rut, and they themselves are euch exceptional characters that one is quite prepared for an unusual ending; but one is left with a feeling that the end should have been a happier one, and more in accord with the conventions. As usual, "the woman pays." Anthony Bellairs, married to a woman whom he hates, is to be solaced by the illicit love of Paula; but she, while having his love in return, ie left an unhappy outcast. Anthony tells her—"l choose for you, who are all woman, to have no hope of home and husband and babies; for you, who are passionate, to be possessed by no lover!" And this doom she cheerfully accepts, saying, "We have the two great essentials of human happiness—we have work to do and each other to love . . . It is not perfect, hut it's life, and life is very good!" In the reaching of this ccedusion is involved the telling of Uc sad life stories. "Wild Justice" - ;ui excellent modern tale that may be I read with keen delight.