Short Stories

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 4

Short Stories

Introduction 3. Stories by New Writers. Faber. 253 PP-

This ‘‘avant garde” collection is the third in a series all published during the last six years, which are designed, in the words of the publishers, “to introduce young prose writers who have made no previous appearance between hard covers.” All except one of the five writers are in their twenties, and their style is one of vivd hardhitting realism. The book is composed of a novella, a play, eight short stories and brief biographical notes on the authors. Many of the writers in the previous Introductions have established considerable reputations and one feels that at least some of the writers in this book will follow them. The one New Zealander in the book, Rachel Bush, is at present a lecturer in English at the University of Canterbury. Her two stories have a common theme of transitory holiday friendships both thought - provoking pieces, with the mood of aimless days of swimming and pottering well caught. The play is a shocker. All the permutations of sexual pairingoff are worked in, the dialogue seems nothing more than large slices of graffiti at its crudest and yet the jacket blurb assures us it has had “an enthusiastic response” from several audiences. It is called, “When Did You Last See My Mother?” and is written by Christopher Hampton. The remaining stories are by Roy Watkins, Michael Hoyland and John Wheway—all absorbing vignettes of modern living and loving.

Rosie Plum. By T. F. Powys. Chatto and Windus. 199 pp. Line drawings by John Ward.

This collection of eighteen short stories, written over a wide period of the author’s life, was discovered by his son some time after Powys’s death in 1953. Set in the familiar Dorset scene, which Powys knew and loved, these allegorical cameos illustrate his simple biblical tenets in the uncomplicated sentences of fable and folklore. But

Powys was not bewitched by the pastoral scene. He knew only too well the cruelty thatcould lurk behind pictureso.ue cottage walls, as “A Papered Parlour” shows. Perhaps there is a hint of lavender in the pages, but human weaknesses do not alter, and

these stories will always be relevant while men and women are boastful and selfishly ignore those worse off than themselves- In “Rosie Plum,” the story of the title, we see Farmer Lord’s uncritical acceptance of the orthodox. Rosie’s non-conformity, both in the wide and the narrow sense, irritates him. She has made a figure of Christ from a straw-stuffed sack and tied it to a cross made by her carpenter husband. For her this is a satisfactory symbol. But to Farmer Lord it seems that “Rosie had set up another God to combat the true God. The true Christ was carved. Rosie’s Jesus was only stuffed. Rosie’s God was unimportant. Her cross was a sham. It was made in Dodderdown and not in Manchester. These are stories to be read more than once—not because they are difficult to understand—but because they are so simple one can easily miss some of their subtlety and humour. Each of these stories shows, perhaps most dearly in “The Wine Fed Tree," man’s misunderstanding of his fellow man.

13 For Luck! By Agatha Christie. Collins. 224 pp.

Agatha Christie’s many fans will welcome this collection of her short stories. Those that are already familiar will be reread with satisfaction, and those that are new to the reader will be eagerly relished. Flamboyant Hercule Poirot, dear comfortable old Miss Marple, and the elusive Mr Quin all bring their talents to bear on a variety of problems. The stories have a wide range of plots and atmosphere, and once again Agatha Christie has proved herself the ingenious doyen of detective fiction. One example of her brilliance is the story of “The Witness for the Prosecution” with a cast of characters all Its own. A dry little lawyer, Mr Mayherne, has undertaken to defend a Channing, plausible young man, accused of murdering his eccentric benefactress.

' The case against him looks , black indeed, and he relies on ; the testimony of his wife ' whom he adores, and who, he says, dotes on him. With : what astonishment does Mr ’ Mayherne discover that the , young lady, Romaine, swears she hates and despises her ' husband and will become a , witness for the prosecution. . This is but the first of a . dazzling series of surprises, i and the plot unfolds to a cun- [ ning finish