AUTHORS' FAVOURITES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

AUTHORS' FAVOURITES.

A LIST FOR TnE KING. As parents sometimes have favourites among their children so an author often thinks more highly of one of his works than of any of the rest, though he is not always willing to divulge his private opinion on the matter (writes the literary correspondent in London of the New York "Times"). A by-product of the silver jubilee has been the disclosure of a large number of these literary preferences. The members of the council of the Authors' Society have received the King's permission to present to the Royal Liluarv at Windsor Castle a set of their books in a uniform commemorative binding. Each member has contributed a copy of one of his works— that which lie himself considers most worthy of inclusion. The list of these choices makes curious reading. In several instances the author's own selection would be confirmed by the popular verdict. Thus Clemence Dane is sending "Broome Stages," Warwick Deeping "Sorrell and Son" E. M. Forster "A Passage to India," A. E. Housman "A Shropshire Lad," W. W. Jacobs "Many Cargoes," W. B. Maxwell "The Unguarded Flame," J. B. Priestley "English Journey," G. R. Sliaw "Saint Joan," and Hugh Walpole "The Cathedral." Perhaps the greatest surprise is John Maseficld's choice of "Gallipoli" rather than any of the poems which won for him the Laureateship, while on the other hand G. Iv. Chesterton sets his "Collected Poems" before any of his prose writing. Sir James Barrie wishes to be remembered by his "Collected Plays" rather than by any of his work not intended for tiic stage. Among other interesting selections are "C," by Maurice Baring; "Lucia's Progress," by E. F. Benson; "The Camlierwell Miracle," by J. D. Beresford; "Gallybird," by Sheila Kaye-Smith; "A Long Time Ago." by Margaret Kennedy; "The Oldest Cod." by Stephen Mejvenr.a; "The Darkening Green." by Compton Mackenzie; "The Mother," by Eden Phillpotts; "The Garden." by L. A. G. Strong, and "This T.ittle World," by Francis Brett Young. The most piquant of all the choices is certainly "Peace With Honour," by A. A. Milne. This is a book that, under the recent Incitement to Disaffection Act. it would be dangerous to offer to any barrack-room library in the British Army. A copy of it will now appear in "glorious binding on the shelves of Windsor Castle as a gift from the author to the King himself, who on jubilee day wore the uniform of a field marshal.