ISSUES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 3

ISSUES

REPRINTS AND NEW

WILD WALES Edited by Herbert R. C. Carr and George A. Lister, both members of the Alpine Club, THE MOUNTAINS OF SNOWDONIA (Crosby Lockwood and Son Ltd. 312 pp.) first appeared in 1925. The present (second) edition is revised ana enlarged. It is a symposium covering the history of this “wild and rugged region in western North Wales . . . known from time immemorial as Eryri, the abode of eagles,” its science and industry, its literature, and its sport. Sixteen contributors helped to prepare the original edition; nine are since dead, including (in 1947) Sir John Lloyd, who revised his historical chapter just before he died, aged 86, and H*. E. Kretschmer, who had brought the story of rock-climb-ing up to date for this edition. A new chapter, on afforestation, has been added. Mountaineers and rock-climb-ers—and Welshmen —will not be the only ones to enjoy this book; its variety of interest invites the ordinary reader and, in particular, will attract the botanist, the. ornithologist, the geologist, and the fisherman. The maps and illustrations are excellent. EMINENT VICTORIAN One of Anthony Trollope’s shorter novels, SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE (Williams and Norgate. 242 pp.), now available in a cheap and good-looking edition, will be welcomed by the many readers returning to this most satisfying novelist. CENTURY LIBRARY Messrs Eyre and Spottiswoode’s Century Library of twentieth century (especially Edwardian) novels now takes in Roy Horniman’s ISRAEL RANK, introduced by Hugh Kingsmill, who recalls the impact this strange and strong story made upon him in youth and renewed many years later; J. D. Beresford’s fine story, THE HAMPDENSHIRE WONDER, introduced in an acute and charming little critical essay by Walter de la Mare; and Antonia White’s FROST IN MAY, introduced by Elizabeth Bowen. Some are sure to make here one of those rare discoveries that thrill the novelreader. ROMANCE A new edition of H. Rider Haggard’s SHE (Macdonald and Co. 320 pp.), illustrated by Hookway Cowles and introduced (in a well-spread account of Haggard’s literary life and work) by Malcolm Elwin, deserves a warm welcome. Whether a new generation of readers will respond to Haggard’s romance as an earlier one did —headed by Andrew Lanj*—will be interesting to learn; it is quite certain that many a greybeard will try the old magic and not find it fail.— Through Thomas C. Lothian Pty. Ltd. JEFFERIES

The new uniform ecHtion of Richard Jefferies, edited for Messrs Eyre and Spottiswoode by Mr C. Henry Warren, has now advanced to a volume which includes ROUND ABOUT A GREAT ESTATE (1880) and RED DEER (1884) —two delightful works, the second a more sustained study of a single subject. than is common in Jefferies—and a double volume devoted to BEVIS (1882). This long, unsensational, but richly nourished tale of boyhood is introduced by Mr Warren, who is discriminatingly just to its unique qualities. CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

Now available again in the Children’s Illustrated Classics series (J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.). Thomas Hughes’s immortal TOM BROWN’S SCHOOLDAYS is sure to find its way at once to the hands and- heart of new readers. George MacDonald’s charming story, THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN, less widely known, deserves to be helped on its way with a specially warm word of welcome. The latter book is illustrated in line and colour by Charles Folkard; the former, by S. Van Abbe. ROYAL QUARTET A very attractive (and moderately priced) volume, Thackeray’s THE FOUR GEORGES (Falcon Press. 131 pp.), is introduced by Jarries Agate, who read the book for the first time “to beguile a convalescence,” was smitten with one of his swift and strong enthusiasms (usually, as here, well justified), and within the month was [ asked to write this piece, one of his ; last. It was the sort of happy coincidence that often b'efel Agate, and he took characteristic and delightful ad- ; vantage of it. MALAYA Sir Frank Swettenham’s BRITISH MALAYA (Allen and Unwin. 380 pp.) has through successive reprintings and i revisions since 1906 remained the most complete and authoritative study of . British influence and achievement in i the peninsula. In the present revision, i completed shortly before his death, he • incorporated much new material. The . original illustrations are all included, i with some new ones, and a good map; the introduction (dated 1946) touches ■ the question of the military debacle l but of course without the advani tage of reports only now being re- . leased. : WESTERN HIGHLANDS The reissue of Alasdair Alpin Mac- ; Gregor’s SOMEWHERE IN SCOT- ; LAND (Robert Hale Ltd. 234 pp.), first published in 1935, has enabled the author to revise and enlarge a : most enjoyable work. Whether Mr MacGregor is reviving the past—he ’ is as good at a battle of the clans, 1 like the Fraser-MacDonald Battle of the Shirts in 1544, as at the weightier ones, and best of all at the history ’ that never reaches text-book status—--1 or luxuriating in the present scene, he is a delightful and instructive patriotguide to the country of his heart, the Western Highlands. The book is generously illustrated and fully indexed. Admired in Italy ever since “Farewell to Arms” days, Mr Hemingway has now requited admiration by establishing a fund of 500,000 lire to encourage Italian writers. Each year, from 1949 to 1953. 100,000 lire will be awarded to the author of the best unpublished novel submitted to Mondadori, his Italian publisher. A vigorous crack-down on literature from the West has recently been conducted in the Soviet zone of Germany. ArWong the dangerous stuff dealt with was Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.”