SAINT THOMAS MORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

SAINT THOMAS MORE.

A SCHOLARLY BIOGRAPHY. " Sir Thomas More has been the subject of many books and now another has . been added to the list. It has been written, in view of his canonisation some months ago, on the n centenary of his death —he had been s beatified by Leo XIII. as far back as f ISSIi —and is intended as a popular s biography. The work of Sir John R. - O'Conneli, LL.D., of the Royal Irish [. Academy—an historical scholar of note tland a former practising lawyer it is -1 published (Duckworth) under the title e "Siiint Thomas More." - | There have been writers, like Fronde, li to whom More was a merciless bigot, -land it is true that, in keeping with e j t lie belief of many in li is day. he thought fj heretics should not be allowed to live, y- but he was without doubt one of the (fgieatest and best men of four and fiva (.■centuries ago. One of his most intimate 3 i friends—and one who had not a little [I to do with the shaping of his mind— , : was Erasmus, and lie expressed the t ■ opinion that Nature had never formed a I'gentler,l'gentler, sweeter, or happier character. Though lie had no inclination towards r public life and, for a time, debated with himself as to whether lie should not u become a monk or a friar, partly because of the influence on him of the ( new humanism, he entered, like his (. father, the legal profession, and such . were his scholarship and abilities that j lie-rose rapidly from one important post ! to another and for years enjoyed the . favour and friendship of Henry VIII Among the posts he held were those of Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor, while he was entrusted on more than one occasion with delicate , diplomatic missions. The author of several books, he is recognised as the first writer of classic English prose and of the first' serious attempt at prose ■ biography in English. His literary masterpiece — the sociological and satirical "Utopia"—is a work of genius and put him in line with men like Plato, Zenophon and Plutarch. It is this book, and his conflict with Henry, and the death to which that conflict led, that are of most interest to the general reader. ' Sir John O'Conneli, who writes from the Catholic standpoint, gives a full and fair account of Anne Boleyn's appearance on the scene —"the little, lively,

sparkling brunette with fascinating eyes and long black hair," as someone has described her —with whom the fickle King had become infatuated, and of what followed from it. Though a man of affairs and a charming friend, More was not a commanding personality. The dignity and high courage, therefore, with which he refused to be won over either by Wolsey or the King is all the more striking. And so was his incorruption in a corrupt age and his unshakable loyalty to his faith. It is interesting to learn that when he gave p his practice at the Bar and yielded to the King's wish to accept employment under the Crown he was earning something like £5000 or £0000 of our I present currency, but when he retired [ from the Chancellorship for conscientious scruples lie pot no pension and was a poor man—due to the expenses j connected with his office and family [affairs. Sir John O'Connell argues against the suggestion of Froude and (others that his renunciation of the clerical state is a proof that he was shocked at the "licentious lives of the monks," and it is open to question. He admits, however, that, like Erasmus and some other contemporaries, he "lampooned the foibles and follies of individual priests and monks." Altogether "Saint Thomas More" is a fine and revealing biography of a man of genius, piety and moral worth and skilfully ■ portrays the background against which he moved. It is written in an easy and attractive style and bears the marks of scholarship and research. It should be welcomed by readers who are interested in More ai \ the times in which he live<l and are unfamiliar with more exhaustive books. It contains a portrait of More, a list of authorities and an index. A QUEEN'S NOVEL. "Masks," by Marie, Queen of Rumania (Duckworth), is a novel that should make a wide appeal. It is the story of an innocently guileless girl called Rachel, who is the adopted daughter of Baruch, an old Jew who dealt in antiquities. Baruch loved her like a father, yet kept her secluded in his home behind the shop, which was situated in a narrow, twisty, grimy little street in a Transylvanian town. Here he had an astonishing collection of masks—long rows of them— some of them of historical and celebrated faces. It was these masks that were Rachel's playmates and friends. One of them was an impression of the face of a beautiful youth known as Zanko, and with this face she fell in love. Apart from Esther, the Jewess servant girl, wiio hated her. there was only one other person, Professor Janowitch. who was allowed by Baruch to see Rachel. Janowitch at once came under the spell of the beauty, charm and innocence of the girl, and of her wonderful singing, and they became great friends and, not the least interesting and touching part of the story is the series of conversations they had, often about Zanko. One day, however, Rachel disappeared. Influenced by Esther, who wished to get rid of her, she had set off for Constantinople, taking with her Zanko, of whom she was always dreaming. Here she got into the hands of a man ! who bore a striking resemblance to him. I She was not long in discovering that he was the brother of Zanko and a | scoundrel, and that he had murdered his brother out of jealousy, and, when he I treats her with brutality, and, in a frenzy of passion, destroys the mask , she loved, she slips out of the room into the night and puts an end to her life. The whole story is told with singular skill irtisl insight, and with delicacy and charm. No one can read it without being deeply moved. BOOKS IN LOCAL DEMAND. AUCKLAND LIBRARIES' LIST. NON-FICTION. Mars His Idiot—By H. M. Tomlinson. Early One Morning in the Spring—By \V. de la Mare. This Torch of Freedom—By S. Baldwin. Arnold Bennett—By Dorothy C. Bennett. The Way of a Transgressor—By N. P'arson. Letters Between Samuel Butler and Miss Savsge. Christ Comes to Town—By A. J. Russell. Rudyard Kipling, a Criticism—By R. Le Oallienne. Mr. Thake and the Ladies—By "Beachcomber." The Destructive Element—By S. Spender. FICTION. Dust Over the Ruins—By H. Ashton. Selina is Older—By S. Kaye-Smith. Scandal at School—By G. D. 11. Cole and 11. Cole Two and Two Make Five—By V. Knowles. The Longest Years—By S. Undset. Angel of Pity—By I". Stuart. It Can't Happen Here—By S. Lewis. Tuesday Afternoon and Other Stories—By L. A. G. Strong-. Shining Windows—By K. Morris. Madame Fears -tho-Dark—By