LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 24

LITERARY.

Lord Gladstone and his brothers are at present preparing for the Press a cheap and abridged edition of Lord Morley'B famous life of their father. There will, however, be considerable additions, as well as a reply to some of the more important criticisms of Mr. Gladstone made during the past twenty years. A hitherto imprinted poem by Sir Walter Scott exists, and there is a prospect that it may Boon be given to the world. It was written at Naples, when he was there, not long before his death, hopelessly seeking health. He gave it to a well-known Englishman, and it has been in the possession of his family ever since. The poem runs to about 30 lines, and is in the characteristic narrative style* of ,r Marmion." Lovers of books on early New Zealand will be gratified to know that the Government Printer will shortly be issuing a new book covering the period of Hone Heke's rebellion—lß44-40— when, aided by a large body of Ngapuhi chiefs and tribesmen, he defied British authority in the North. The book, which is copiously illustrated, has been written by Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, F.R.Hist.S., and will be published under the title of "New Zealand's First War." Mystery stories have lost none of their fascination for a large reading public, and the author who can devise a crime and keep the secret of responsibility to the last page is always sure of a wide circulation. Such an one is Mr. Herbert Adams, whose fourth story, "The Crooked Lip" (Metlmen), will appeal strongly to all who like to keep hot on the trail, but to be kept guessing to the end. A railway murder starts the quest, and the mystery grows as false scents are gradually eliminated, and the crime finally sheeted home to the plausible scoundrel who murdered an innocent man and tried to rob his daughter. There is plenty of excitement in the story, but the author keeps it in hand all the way. Anticipation of something good when opening a book bearing the imprint of the Cornstalk Publishing Company, of Sydney, is again justified by the reading of "Sally in Rhodesia." by Sheila McDonald., it is full of wholesome fun and the record of some years of domestic adventures in Salisbury and other parts of the colony. Native ( servants, babies, gardening, shopping, j social amenities, journeys, picnics, and all the small but interesting affairs which go to that adventurous existence we call life, are set forth in easy, flowing, careless style; the style usual in letters to relatives at home from colonial exiles. The correspondence addressed to "Mother" is that of a girl of good breeding and a kind heart, yet not free from the critical expressions of an observant woman who is a lover of nature and a hater of shams. As the ■story of *what an Englishwoman of refinement can face with gaiety and courage in a strange land, it is a lesson well worth learning. It is not easy to guess who amongst us British readers will find interest in the biography of a German ruler of 1643-88. So great has been the recent upheaval in Germany that it is not possible to foresee by study of the past what the future may bring to that misguided country. It is not natural to fight a man and then be happily engaged in the recorded doings of bis greatgrandfather. This, however, is what Mr. C. E. Maurice expects and deserves in relation to hi 9 book, "The Life of Frederick William"—The Brandenburg Elector (George Allen Unwin). The Great Elector knitted a political jacket which warmed and shielded his succescessdrs until William 11. most recklessly unravelled it and left his country naked. We must confess we are more interested in the attempts of modern German statesmen (sic.) to shelter themselves from the wind of disaster than in what a wise ruler did in long past and probably happier days, but we honour and respect the industry which has brought a great and good man once more into the light. Of the thousands of girls who wish to become film actresses, of the tens of thousands who wish to know where and how film pictures are made, there will be few who are unlikely to* read "Minnie Flynn," by Frances Marion (Chatto and Windus), and it is not improbable that this lady will be as well known eventually as any queen of the films. "Minnie Flynn" is a cold and ruthless exposure of the evils connected with film studios, a pitiless, analysis of the lives and characters of film actors and actresses. It tells of the struggles anu failures of aspirants, of the hardwon success of the few, of the shams, pretences, and frauds by which the public are gulled, of the temptations and tragedies of the cinema stage, and of all the "tricks of the trade," and the genuine legitimate work of producers, directors, casting directors, cameramen, electricians, property women, carpenters and attendants. The authoress has omitted nothing. No detail is too small to be set down. From the point of view of promoter, staff and public, the whole routine of film production is set out as a back ground and 'local colour" for the life and romance of the heroine —the "common little thing" who becomes famous and infamous. A novel with all the essentials of a most enthralling story, and all the features of an exhaustive study of a great modern industry. NEW ZEALAND VERSE. Twenty years ago an anthology of New Zealand verse, selected by Messrs. C. F. Alexander and A. E. Currie was published by Whitcombe and .Tombs. The edition has long been out of print, but this has been remedied by its republication in revised and extended form, under the title of ."A Treasury of New Zealand Verse." Forty-three new poems have been added, and eighteen new contributors appear. The anthologists have done their work well, and New Zealand can afford to feel some measure of pride in the achievement. A joyous sense of freedom and of light, a love of Nature's untamed beauty fostered by its thousand manifestations, and a real, if nascent, inspiration combine to prove that the Dominion is developing a true literary standard, that tree and stream, mountain and lake are making a veritable appeal to the inner consciousness of the beholder, which will gradually effloresce into a national literature worthy of a great country. The publishers have performed a real service in reprinting the volume, which will be welcomed by all who take even the smallest interest in the literary effort* of their countrymen. ...... 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Dorothy a' Beckett Terrell, the authoress of "Last Year's Nest," has again proved her ability and deep understanding of life in "Common of Angels" (Duckworth), a story which has that natural, effortless quality that leads the reader to believe it all true, from beginning to end. Most unsatisfactory indeed is the ending, but painfully, realistically true to life. A cleanly, human domestic tale, comparing good with bad, and new with old, and through it all the pointing finger—do thus and be happy, or thus and suffer. A novel powerful in its simplicity, touching in its pathos, and bold in its moral lesson. The hapless gardener who attempts to raise his own plants frofn seed generally falls back on the nurseryman in the long run. Careful study of the advice contained in "Plants from Seed," by A. J. Macself (Thornton, Butterworth), may however, make him a little more selfsupporting. The writer treats of the whole method of raising seedlings and gives sound advice on the principles of crossing, harvesting, sowing and rearing. Though his directions are intended for English gardeners, they can readily be transplanted by the aid of a little common sense, and growers here who like to specialise will find much in the book to interest and instruct them. There are chapters dealing with seed beds, fertilisation, the use of heat, vegetable growing, lists of annuals and perennials, and facts and instructions relating to shrubs, trees and aquatic plants. Mr. Macself ii" an interesting guide into the intricacies of raising new varieties by cross-fertilisation and other methods. Bramwell Booth, the second- leader of that vast organisation, the Salvation Army, and the son of its founder, has written his reminiscences under the title of "Echoes and Memories" (Hodder and Stoughton). The book consists in the main of a deeply interesting series of reminiscences of the army, and its history and methods are very fully dealt with, but many incidents and personalities outside the army are touched upon, and interesting stories told of great personalities. General Bramwell Booth regards benevolence as the mainspring of his father's characteristics, unfailing goodwill towards his fellows. His adamantine will and hie impudent attitude during important interviews, however, made him difficult' to manage. The writer likens the army to a ship built at sea while the builders were mastering the principles of navigation. No other religious organisation afforded them a precedent, and they had to draw their own chart and devise their own compass. The founder of the army travelled round the world, preaching more sermons than even John Wesley, and some of them from most extraordinary pulpits. Early attacks upon the army are dealt with in a very charitable vein, and the army's winning fight in the battle for the right to speak in the streets is stirringly told, as indeed is the whole struggle for recognition waged against bitter opposition from all classes of society, from roughs at one end to ecclesiastical leaders at the other, until finally a place was won as a great evangelical and social reform organisation. Altogether an inspiring book, filled with gossipy stories and informed by a spirit of conviction, bearing on every page the impress of practical idealism. PATHS TO WORLD PEACE. Blessed are the peacemakers. There are enough of them to make a little war of their own, and ever since the Peace of Versailles they have been wrangling and arguing as to the possibilities of the maintenance of peace in a manner sufficient to disturb the peace of anything but a very warweary world. Mr. B. C. Waller joins the anvil chorus with an inquiry as to whether the establishment of peace is a practical undertaking in bis book "Paths to World Peace" (Allen and Unwin, Ltd.). The writer won the prize offered in Boston two years ago for the best essay on measures for the restoration of peace and prosperity in Europe, and the book is an extension of the principles and views he then enunciated. He regards the establishment of the. League of Nations as the greatest single step towards world peace ever taken, but doubts whether it is working out its destiny along the right lines, summarising his criticism thus: "Are men prepared to pay the price of peace? The idea that there is such a price to be paid may seem strange to some. They talk of the cost of war, but peace they assume to be a free gift easily attained, or indeed man's natural birthright, unnaturally disturbed by wickedness or folly. War they regard as the active state; peace, the passive. War, it has been maintained, is the natural, indeed the inevitable result of .international chaos; peace is only to be secured by the establishment of international order. The advance from chaos to order cannot possibly be made by sitting with folded hands, but only by resolute and persevering effort. Nothing is easier than to drift into war or revolution; but men never drift into peace or good government. Like all good things—prosperity, justide, liberty—peace has to be sought for, striven for, paid for. The establishment of permanent peace demands efforts and sacrifices similar in character to those by which the great political advances which are reckoned as landmarks in the history of civilisation have been brought about." PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED THIB WEEK. Treasury of N.Z. Verse (Whitcombe and Tombs). . , „ _ , To-day and To-morrow, by J. H. Curie (Methnen). German Colonisation —Past and Future, by Dr. Heinrich Schnee (Geo. Allen and Without Horns, by Beale Davis (Stanley Paul). A Riff Bride, by L. Noel (Stanley Paul). Seleoted Stories, by Guy de Maupassant A Corinthian* Bride, by Ben Bolt (Herbert Jenkins). _ _ , „, _ The Secret Terror, by Frank Hlra (Dvmock's book.Arcade). Pyrrlio, by Bartram HoUlnton (Williams and Norgrate). _ ,„,... _. Colonial Everyday Cookery (Whitcombe and Tombs). . _~ ... . The Southdown Flipper, by Tulte (Herbert pJuUny Felix Riesenbers (Herbert Sir by Patrick MacgUl (Herbert end Present, by Brian W. Downs (Methuen). • The White Flag, by Gene Stratum Porter Maud Diver (John aossefyhVs* Wife, by . Kathleen Norrls Role 0 * by Kathleen Norrls R«| ( ig°o«ity U and y Morbid Mental States, by H. J. Scbou (Methuen). „„♦,« Tho Limited Market, by P. W. Martin (Geo. Allen and Unwin). Science Progress (John Murray). Empire Review for May (Macmillan < and Co.). Th* Nineteenth Century for. May (Constable ana Co.) A k u_. . j