LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 21

LITERARY.

Fifteen papers contributed at intervals to English reviews by Mr. Lytton Stracliey have been collected in a volume entitled "Books and Characters" (Chatto and Windus.), Of Racine as a poet, Mr. Straehey points out "chat 'nis verse was written tor declamation on the stage, and it is only in the theatre that one can experieure to the full the potency »f his art.'' Writing on the works of * Sir Thomas Browne, he observes that ''his Teatc-t work was produted later In life; for there is nothing j n the 'Relijrio Medici" which reaches the same level of excellence as the last paragraph in 'The Garden of Cyrus' and the List chapter of TJru Burial." A long and calm experience of life seems, indeed, to be the background from which his mo=t amazing sentences start out into being." In an essay on "Shakespeare's Final Period." Mr. Strachey challenges the theory that the great dramatist's -work contains evidence that "after a happy youth and a gloomy middle age he reached at last a state of quiet serenity in which he died. - ' An analysis of the plays that succeeded thb jrreat series of tragedies which began with Hamlet in 1601 and ended in IGOS ivit'i 'Anthony and Cleopatra. , is given with the object of proving that "in the latter year Shakespeare's entire method underwent an astonishing change. For six years he had been persistently occupied -with a kind of writing which "he had not only invented but brought to the highest point, of excellence— the tragedy of character. Yet after 'Anthony and Cleopatra . Shakespeare deliberately turned his back upon the dramatic methods of all his past career." Of "Johr»son"s Lives of the Poets," Mr. Strachey observes that the v,"ork has interest chiefly as a standing example of a great dead traditiou. 'Johnson had no ear, and lie had no imagination. These are, indeed, grievous disabilities in a critic. What could have induced such a man, the impatient reader is sometimes tempted to ask, to set himself up as a judge of poetry." Essays on Voltaire discuss the French author's relations with England and Germany, and his tragedies. A brief account of the career of Lady Hester Stanhope revives recollections of that eccentric -woman, who was crowned with flowers under the Corinthian eolums of Zenobia's temple at Palmyra, and died at Mount Lebanon, under conditions of shocking squalor. Another notable, bμt of very different type, is depicted by Strachey in his sketch of iMr. Creevey, that inveterate gossip, through whose diaries and letters we have obtained a realistic picture of prominent figures in the first half of the Nineteenth Century.

English criticism suffers a notable lose in the death of Sir Walter Raleigh, professor of English literature at •Oxford. His book on the English novel and his volume ou style are classics of their kind. He wrote the volume on iShakespenre iv the English Men of Letters Scries, an adniirabje, compact, and lucid exposition of a very difficult subject. His six essays on Johnson are delightful. Professor Raleigh belonged to the lively school of criticism, of which Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch is another distinguished member. He held that because a critic had to be learned, that wae no reason why he should be dull, and he'himself never was that.

The rise of a London draper in Oxford Street, from small beginnings to a position of opulence, is the theme of Mr. W. Pett Ridge's novel "Richard Triumphant" (Methuen). Richard starts his career as clerk in the shop at an early stage in its development, where the proprietor's daughter assists :it the books and is quite willing to Pβ made love to, an invitation wnich Richard not unwillingly responds to. But the parent intervenes and p7aces before the enterprising- youth the choice of dismissal or an undertaking that he will not hold any further communication with the girl. Richard, a youth with a determination to get on, places business before love, and is rewarded soon afterwards with a junior partnership. His sentimental impulses find consolation in another and more aristocratic direction. Out of these abundant materials Mr. W. Pett Ridge weaves a very readable story.

In the person of a rich merchant of Bagdad, who narrates the story of his life to seven wondering nephews, Jlr. Hillaire Belloc satirises some of the methods by which fortunes are amassed. Mahmoud, a wily old Oriental, covers his varied rascalities with a garment, of piety. To "The Mercy of Allah" he ascribes all his successes in the art of swindling without landing him in the hands of justice. Beginning his career with direct thefts, Mahmoud exploits in succession the art of cornering articles that are scarce, the tricks of banking and loans to Governments, the flotation of bogus mineral areas and various other means of defrauding his fellow men. He is a quaint old rascal and gloats over his achievements with a pious unction that is exceedingly funny. The novel is published by Chatto and Windus.

Harding Cox, a notable figure in. the English sporting world, horse-owner and gentleman rider, M.F.H., ■ angler, and breeder of dogs, gives his reminiscences in a readable volume entitled "Chasing and Racing" (John Lane, per Whitcombe and Tombs.) Mr. Cox had a very varied experience in the world of sport, and came in intimate personal contact with most of the owners and jockeys whose names have been conspicuous during the past forty years. He was an inveterate punter, and tells a good many stories about his luck in betting as well as his successes and failures on the turf. Among other owners and patrons of the turf he made the acquaintance of King Edward, then Prince of Wales, at Regal Lodgp, Mrs. LangtrVs residence, near Newmarket, where she had placed a string- of horses in the name of "Air. Jersey"' at the training stable of Sam Pickering. On one occasion the Prince gave Mrs. Langtry and Mr. Cox an early tip at Newmarket, on Jeddah for the Derby, which secured bets at £1000 to £80, "a profit which was duly pouched. Mr. Cox describes Mrs. Langtry's success and failure in the importation of Musket stock from Australia, to compete in English classic races. Merman, the first horse imported, won the Caesarewitch and Ascot Gold Cup, but another colt called Aurum, of the same

-train, never became a success. The lover of sport will find plenty to interest and amuse him in Mr. Cox's yarns, which are told with gusto, interlarded with tiio choicest sporting phraseology.

The official report of the proceedings of the re-union conference at Sydney between representatives of the Anglican, Presbytprian, Methodist and Congrega tionaf Churches in Australia, has been published by Messrs. Angus and Robertson, and contains a conipjete review of $ha whole question,

The secret and mysterious life-history of the noted ehort-story writer, O. Henry, is revealed in a series of articles in "Life," under the title of "Through the Gates of Hell With O. Henry," by Al. Jennings, the companion of O. Henry during five terrible years in gaol and ■"CIS the dodge" from the police Jn Mexico.

"'Half-hours in the Bush-house," by A. E. Cole (Angus and Robertson) is a handy guide for the erection by any amateur gardener of a bush-house, and directions for propagating plants adapted for culture under such conditions in Australia. Although specially written for Australians, a great deal of the inmrmn. tion is equally suitable for New Zealand. The writer deal's with the construction of bush-houses, illustrated by diagrams, with manures, pot-culture of tubers, ferns, foliage plants and creepers.

Lovers of dogs will delight in Major A. J. Dawson's "Everybody's Dog Book" (W. Collins, per Whitcombe and Tombs.) Major Dawson has Ions; been recognised as one of the leading authorities on dogs in Great Britain. Also, he has been one of the moat successful breeders of Irish wolfhounds. In addition, he has written two eplendid romances in which a d°g figures as the hero. '-Finn, the Wolfhound," and "Jau: Son Of Finn." In "Everybody's Dog Book" he gives to all owners and lovers of dogs the fruite of all his great experience. It is a complete guide to the care and welfare of do<rs, their 'bodies and minds. It deals with every breed from "Pokes" to bloodhounds, it tells us how to feed dogs, how to educate them, to learn really to know them and breed them. To" make the book more attractive still, Major Dawson has included some splendid dog stories, and no one can tell them better. ]t is copiously illustrated.