THE BOOKSHELF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

NEWS AND REVIEWS.

A VICTORIAN COLLECTION. VARIOUS NOVELS. "Spreading Germs of Hate," a book on war propaganda, < and especially the contest between British and Germans in America, is reviewed .on page 1. One hears from time to time of excellent bargains in old books made by keen-eyed buyers in New Zealand. A -number of immigrants in days gone by brought libraries with them, and these contained old books that have become valuable. An Auckland sheep farmer picked up for ninepence in an Auckland auction room the three-volume first edition of Smollett's "The Expedition of Humphry Glinker," published in 1771. The same copy was sold the other day in New York for about £74. Two New Zealand books were noticed very favourably in recent issues of "The Times" Literary Supplement. There was a lengthy and appreciative review of "Pictures of Old New Zealand," the volume containing reproductions of the Lindauer collection, with descriptions by James Cowan. The reviewer says that Mr. Cowan's biographical sketches are real works of art. The second book is Mr. A. R. D. Fairburn's volume of poems, which will shortly he reviewed in these columns. Mr. Fairburn is declared to be a real poet. A case was heard in the Chancery Division recently as to the copyright in Pepy's Diary, which has never been published in full (says the "Observer"). It has been printed in various selections, from a single volume up to the eightvolume edition of Wheatley's, but the remainer is not likely to see the light in any stage of emancipation which we can foresee. Pepys wrote the parts "unfit for publication" in French, and sometimes in Latin, Greek) or Spanish, adding certain confusions of his own. A transcript of the whole is in possession of Magdalene College. . A MODERN JUAN. AMUSING ADVENTURES IN AMERICA. It is a poor novel that nowadays canjQot find some reviewer who will proclaim it as being in some respect extraordinary, or even as a "masterpiece"; but it is a fact that novels of a high standard lire plentiful. The experiences of "Juan in America" (Jonathan Cape), as described by Eric Linklater, form a ease .in point. No better entertainment has been provided in a novel for many •s, year, although it must be said that the entertainment will not be enjoyed by "hundred per cent" Americans, even those accustomed to the criticisms of the Sinclair Lewis school. Mr. Linklater writes vigorously and with admirable clarity, and his wit is delightful. His humour is occasionally coarse, but is unforced and devoid of nastiness. Juan, who is an ' enterprising' and dauntless young Englishman, encounters the most astonishing adventures from the moment of his landing in New York, and he is still encountering them when the book ends, but Mr. Linklater's skill is such that the reader finds nothing incredible, unless it be Hie descent from the clouds (in parachutes) of Juan and a companion at the very moment when a crowd of benighted Oklahomans are about to lynch a negro. But his experiences at an American University and in Hollywood, and his earnest conversation with a professional "mortician" will make the reader chuckle many times even after he has finished the book. It may be added that Mr. Linklater is a young Scot who, accordr ing to his publishers, has led. a roving life as inconsequent as that of his own Juan.

it VICTOBIANA." AMUSING BUT MISLEADING. The reaction against Victorianism has been checked by a counter-reaction. One by one the great Victorians are coming back, said an eminent novelist the other day. But the business of guying the Victorians goes on. It is easy, and there is always an audience for it, especially among rudderless young intelligentsia. "Victoriana," edited and compiled by Margaret Barton and Osbert Sitwell (Duckworth) is a collection of sayings by great or eminent Victorians. This method of separation and illumination, thinks Mr. Sitwell, who contributes a characteristic introduction, is worth while for the light it throws on the age and its figures. Certainly he and his collaborator have collected a wonderful lots of exhibits of pomposity, self-satis-faction, platitude and wrong-headedness generally. It is both amusing and painful to read the positively expressed mistakes in judgment by leading critics. The "Athenaeum" said of Wagner's "Rheingold" that "never was there such a storm in a slop-basin"; the "Daily Telegraph" described the Albert Memorial as "assuredly the most consummate and elegant piece of elegiac art which modern genius has produced," and said on Queen Victoria's death that her loss "will be bitterly remembered and felt through history to the last vibration of time"; the "Saturday Review" described Ibsen's "Rosmersholm" as "simply bosh" (perhaps a good many are still of that opinion), and Robert Buchanan said that to discuss Ibsen was "to prick a wind-bag." The "Athenaeum" praised Alfred Austin and described George Moore as capable, and the "Daily Telegraph" advised Whistler to paint like a gentleman. The Queen refers to the attempts of "these dreadful Irish people" to block important measures of coercion, and statesmen, in Mr. Chesterton's phrase, go on buttering England with the same stale old butter. It is all funny and sad and instructive, but, of course, it is not fair to the Victorian age. Future ages may. take from their surroundings and gibbet sayings of our own time; indeed, Mr. Sitwell himself promises to exhibit pearls of Edwardian' and Georgian wisdom. He admits the greatness of many Victorians, but there is not much doubt that his appreciation is insufficiently deep. Gladstone seems to be the chief object of his dislike, but the spectacle of Mr. Sitwell writing down a giant like Gladstone moves one to an annoyance which Mr. Sitwell's degree of importance really does not warrant. The fact is that, these Victorians believed definitely in certain things, but what does Mr. Sitwell believe in? Mr. Max Beerbohm contributes a frontispiece showing Mr. Sitwell reviewing the Victorians, but the Victorians might not think it worth while' to review Mr. Sitwell.

OTHER NOVELS.

ELEANOR FARJEON AND MARJORIE BOWEN.

Eleanor Farjeon, who has already made a reputation with several highly imaginative and exceptional stories, especially "Martin Pippin in the A.pple Orchard," has now written a novel of Sussex farm life, "Ladybrook"' tt'cllihe), which is most dramatic, most remarkably" like life. The companionship of good and evil shown in the characters throughout this story, is intensely human, and entirely unlike the supposedly consistent and mechanical■?■ orking of minds dear to many novelists. The authoress is -apt to stress the physical processes of love by comparison with the spiritual, but all the "Ladybrook" people are endeared to us (by their humanity, and as much by their failings as their noble and unselfish promptings. This is a notable ibook.

Marjorie Bowen's deception of critics and public with a double pen name may be no more than a feminine fancy, but those critics who had hailed "George Preedy" as a new writer, and have seen nothing of Marjorie Bowen in the style or plot of the volumes by G. Preedy, may feel a little annoyed. As one of Shaw's characters says, how can you criticise a play until you know who wrote it? "Tumult in the North," hy George Preedy, otherwise Marjorie Bowen, Mrs. Long (The Bodley Head) is a somewhat gloomy but gripping and powerful story of Cumberland and the North in the days when many vain hopes rested in the Young Pretender, and when Catholics and Protestants had changed places and the latter were in power. There is a generous allowance made by the authoress for both religions, so much so that on the score of belief no bitterness is shown. Social and political influences are pre-* dominant. Strong personal emotions sway the destiny of men, and the love of woman is dominant. This is an engrossing novel of a period popular with the novelists.

Paul Feval, a follower of Dumas, has arranged some delightful adventures for our old combatant friend Cyrano. "Salute to Cyrano" (Longmans) is gay, adventurous, and political, introducing the Man with the Iron Mask, and explaining his identity and fate. Cyrano is killed, buried, and revived to fight again to the alarm of both friends and enemies. Louis XTV. is accounted a pleasant youth, and Anne of Austria more ill-advised than illintentioned. In fact everybody is better than history of the official kind would have them-

Dora Burford has attempted to revive the quite undeserved glories of that robber and murderer, tha English highwayman. In "Mr. Corrington" (Hodder and Stoughton), the authoress has written a story apparently composed of extracts from all Early Victorian novels mentioning footpads, highwaymen, fops, gipsies, duels, and cockfigktmg, and dishonoured gentry, and for anyone of the newer generation who has read of none of these, the book will pass, but for us it is stale stuff, unworthy of the time and trouble .[lavished upon it. Hatred and revenge, carried to the edge of the grave, and beyond, let us hope are exceptional. In "Murder from the Grave" (Cassell), Will Levinrew has planned a series of poisonings by one man upon his relatives for the sake or money. That the poisoning in one case is arranged before the poisoner's death is the unusual feature of this rather ghastly story. In two hundred and forty pages of unrelieved tragedy, Mr. John Hampson has written a remarkable novel of English life on the lower plane of country village existence. He writes of poverty and drink, of reckless love, of fear and hate. The most fierrible thing in "Saturday Night at the Greyhound" (Hogarth Press) is the murder of a dog, and with consummate art the author has told of this event in words which leave no hope of their being forgotten. This is an unusual story, told with memorable skill, and many shudders to mark its memory. An alternative title to Jennifer Davies* "Fancy's Followers'? (Duckworth) might be "The Curate's Seduction," for such is the history presented here. A young actress, disregarding entirely religion and morals, and already having "done everything" for mere fun, falls honestly in love with a sincere young curate, and draws him from church, religion and virtue. He marries respectably, but still continues his irregular connection with the actress, by whom he has one son. His elocutionary training he uses as a wedge upon Parliamentary doors, and enters the House of Commons, still conscience burdened.

NEW ZEALAITO STORIES. It is a pity that the tales in "Such is Life, and Other New Zealand Stories," by N. E. Coad (A. H. Stockwell, London) were collected between the pages of a book, for they are not worth it. They are for the most part pointless, and the writing is amateurish. One reads that "motor cars galore seemed to bear down" on one character in Queen Street, that the same character hopes "the motoring fraternity will excuse us for being alive," that members of the New Zealand Parliament "were out to give the British Empire a boost along," and that a lover '"moodily saw Winifred tripping the light fantastic with St. George till he could endure the sight no longer." The worst of it is that readers overseas may think that these stories represent New Zealand literature. BOOKS RECEIVED. East of Singapore, by S. M. Parkman; The King Comes Back, by Victor Bridges; All Saints' Day, toy Eliza Kirby; The Fifth Son of the Shoemaker, by Donald Corley (Hoddcr and Stougttton). A Hundred Thousand Guineas, by Edgar Jepson (Herbert Jenkins). Stanton, by Desmond Coke (Chapman and Hall). About Women, by Alfred Sutfo; Fancy's Followers, by Jennifer Davles; Victorians, . edited and compiled by Margaret Barton and Ostoert Sitwell .(Duckworth). Selected Poems of Coventry Patmore, edited with an introduction by Derek Patmore (Goaf to and Windus—Phoenix Library). Fed Up, by George A. Birmingham; The Thirteenth Floor, by 3. F. W. Hannay; The Captive of Sahara, by E. M. Hull (Metbuen). Deadman's Grove, by Frank C. Robertson (Cumins). Guarded Watch, by FaroTJbar Sloan (John MBTi'ay). The Ricksha Clue, by Geoffrey Elbinger; The Incredible Crime, by L. Austen Leigrh -£: (Herbert Jenkins). Murder in Earl's Court, by Neil Gordon (The Bodley Head). England Arise, a Study of the Pioneering Days or the Labour Movement, by Godfrey Elton (Jonathan Cape). Life of Vice-Admiral Bligh, Sometime Governor of New South Wales, in two volumes, toy George Mackaness (Angus and Robertson).