NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15488, 15 January 1916, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

EXPLORATION IN LABRADOR. Two intensely interesting books of adventure and exploration are "The Lure of the Labrador Wild," and "The Long Labrador Trail," by Dillon Wallace. In 1903, when Leonidas Hubbard, jun., went to Labrador to explore a section of the unknown interior, Mr Dillon Wallace acoompaneid him as his companion and friend. The rest of the party consisted of George Elson, a halfbreed Cree Indian, who for resourcefulness, courage, and loyalty proved himself to be a man among ten thousand. The story of their wanderings through the wild interior of Labrador is intensely interesting. Hubbard unfortunately succumbed to the hardships which tho party encountered, and the story of his death comes very close in its pathos to that of the incomparable end made by Captain Scott, the Antarctic explorer. While Hubbard and Wallace were struggling over the desolate wastes, where life -was always uncertain, they entered into a compact that in case one of them fell the other would carry* to completion the exploratory work that Hubbard had planned and -begun. It fell to Walface to undertake this task, and the "Long Labrador Trail" tells the story. Less tragic than the other, it is almost equally enthralling. The description of the Eskimos is particularly interesting. (London: Hodder and Stoughtori; Is net each.)

REGENT NOVELS. "Through. Stained Glass," by. George Agnew Chamberlain, is : the story of father and 6on who travel a great deal, see a "great many interesting places, while incidentally the father gives the son the benefit of his experience of life. There is an interlude in "which the son studies in a Paris atelier, and gets into an undesirable love entanglement, from which he is happily ■ rescued. (London: George Allen and Uirwin, Ltd., 2s tid.)

"Nicky Nan, Reservist," by "Q." (Sir A. T. Quiller-Gouch) has a story of hidden treasure And the trouble it •brought to the -old" naval reservist "Nicholas Nanjivell," otherwise Nicky Nan, but it derives its chief interest from its delightful sketches of the Cornish seaside village and its inhabitants, and the manner in which they were affected by the Great War. Sir Quiller-Couch is here quite at his beet. (London: William Blackwood and Son., Christchurch: Whitcombe and. Tombs. 3s 6d.)

In "Shadows," H. Grahame Richards has git'en us a novel deserving very high praise. Following a method popular amongst recent novelists, lie introduces his chief, characters as children. Gwaine, Hilda, Ronald are as natural and engaging as any children need to be. Later sections of the story are headed, "Life in the Making." and "The School for Gentlemen." Ronald going rapidly downhill in turbulent youth, is recalled by his country's need. l*he "School for Gentlemen" is the present war. In some extraordinarily vivid chapters. Grahame Richards shows how honour is won, endurance learned, in trendh and hospital. "We may admit a critical prejudice against some storybooks, making fictional and sentimental capital of tfhe war. In this, though the war interest is intense, it is unaffectedly simple and sincere. Hilda's tragic share of the calamity, with its deep pathos, and Gwaine's brave patience under trial, are the most natural outcome of the earlier pages dealing with English family life—a life which, for all its faults, trains young English men and women to meet great emergencies greatly. "Shadows" is a fine literary performance, and should be widely read. : Hutchinson's Colonial " Library. Christchnrch: Simpson and Williams, Ltd. 2s 6d.)

"Charles Quantrill." by Evelyn Apted, is a very creditable first book. The writer will- probably do better thing's later on. when she trains a little more ease in the conversational style, and loses the beginner's taste for superfluous details in the narrative. (London: Methuen and Co., Ltd. 3s 6d.)

Astorv of ndventure that will appeal to boys is "The Isle of Palms," by Charlea Barrett. The heroes are three Australinn lads, who go in search of treasure believed to be hidden in a coral island. An old sundowner in Riverina, who had been marooned on the island, first tells them of the hoard, and accompanies them in the search, the rest of the being an old seaman and his sou. There is a conflict with a Rang of desperadoes, and the island itself is a. most wonderful place, quite reminiscent of that in which the "Swiss Family R-obi"son" found a home. (Melbourne: The Lothian Publishing Co., Ltd. 2s 6d.)