LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 211, 25 May 1918, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Stray Leaves. In the latest (March) number of the "Nineteenth Century" there is a striking articlo by Sir William Eamsay entitled "Confessions of a Peacemaker." Alter forty years' intiinaiy with Uennan scholars and officials of the best typo that Germany can produce, ho suddenly realised, before the war, that the modern German had beon perverted by State and Emperor worship into,a dangerous, unmoral being, with a bitter hatred, based on envy, of Great Britain and America. "Tho author," says tho "Spectator," "was always well disposed towards Germany, and his evidence is of value." This is all very well, but. why did Sir' William Itameay and others who'recog-nised-tho danger of the German menace —before tho war—keep silent? A correspondent of "The British Weekly" says that in "Pepys's Diary" mention is made of a "famous new play" entitled "Tho Adventures of Five Hours," written by Colonel S. Tuko, and produced at tho pukef's House. Ho says:—"A couplet which 1 have just come across in reading this play aeoms to me so apposite to our own times that I venture to send it to you-— "War made in earnest -makctli war to cease, And vigoroue prosecution hastens ppace."

Admirers of Mr. Pett Eidgo's amusing books on London ■ lifo will be glad to know that a new story from his pen, "Top Speed," is dne vory shortly from Methuen's. This time it is not, Henven be thanked; a war etory. '

Apiopos'to the new collected edition of Leonard 'Merrick's novels and stories, to. which I alluded recently, Sir J. M. Barrie, in his introduction to tho first volume of the series, "Conrad in Search of His Youth," expresses the opinion that no living English novelist has a greater gift-for tolling a story than Mr. Merries. Barrio says ho "would rather have written some of Mr. Merrick's books than any books by living authors, except a dozen or so by Thomas Hardy." Under the title "The Great Crusade," Messrs. Hodder and .Stoughton are pub-' lishing a second series of speeches by the British Prime Minister. An "authoritative biography" of Mr. Lloyd-George by Harqld Spender, autlior of that v .dever political novel "Tho Gulf," is also annouuend.

It is somo time now since wo had anything new from the pen of Miss Mary Chohnondoley, whose "Red Pottage," published a good many years ago, made such a. hit. Miss Cholmondeley has. I seo, written a book of "Reminisconces," tho title being "Under Ono Roof." It is understood the book will be a kind of fam. ily history. Arnold Bennett's new novel, "Tho Pretty Lady," was announced for early publication whon tho last mail loft London. It doals with West End life dur,i"ng the war. For tho time beinc Mr. Bennett seems to have quito forsaken the Fivo Towus he made so famous in his "Clayhanger" sories and hie earlier books generally. George Mooro has taken the hostile criticism on his book, "The Brook KerItK," 60 much to heart that his latest effusion, "A Story-teller's Holidav," will not be sent to the newspapers. Tlie book is to be published for subscribers only; only 800 copies being printed. Tho price is iC2 2s. That clever "first novel," "Miss Haroun liasehid," by Je3sie Douglas Kerruish, is to have a successor very shortly. As in tho.first story, tho background is Asia Minor. The title is "Tho Girl from Kurdestan." Some amazing prices were realised in a London auction recently when a collection of the mystic poet-artist Blako's little booke—the illustrations coloured by thp author—were soid. "America 1793 and Europe 1794," consisting of 33 pages and titles, .finely coloured by the author, brought 750 guineas. "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," 1790, text and designs on 27 plates, coloured by Blake, realised 720 guineas. ( Tho original MS. and designs of "Vala," one of the unpublished "prophetio books," brought 400 guineas. Evidently the wealthy collector lias eurvned iho Viar taxation.

John Masefield is publishing a work on "The Somme Battles," forming a companion or sequel to his study of "The Old Front Lino."

Two collections of Swinburne's letters will shortly bo at tho disposal of tho dead poot's admirers. The first (published in London in March) is edited by Thomas Hako and Compton Ricketts. The second, a much more important work, will be edited by Mr. Ldmuiid , Gosse, in two volumes. Swinburne was ii prolific letter-writer, and as ho delighted in giving his friends tit-bits of Vigorous criticism of his contemporaries tho letters ought to make- lively readme.. "Tho Loom of Youth," Alec Waugh's story of English public school life, is still being discussed in the English papers. Tho book, winch has had an excoptionally large sale, w refused by no fewer than six publishers before being accepted by tho more discerning Mr. Grant Richards. Tho late Professor J. A. Cramb, who emphasised the influence ot Nnpoletmism in Germany in Ins book on "Germany and Englaud," lott an unpublished romance of Napoleon and lua times, entitled "Sohonbrunn," which Messrti. Putnam have in tho press. The story places Napoleon at Schoubrunn in the days when peaoo and war hung in uie balance and on the conqueror's destiny depended the fato of Europe. Students of Polynesian languages should note the appearance of a "Grammar and Vocabulary of the Snmoan Language," by H. Nefgen. A feature of tai book, which is published by Kegan Paul, Trench, frubner and Co. at ss. (English price;, iB an essay on similarities between tho Samoan and the Tahitian and Maori languages. Up to the present the be.tf book on the Dardanelles campaign has been Mr. John Masefield'a "Gailipoli." Mr. Henry W. Nevinson, who was wounded whilst serving as a war correspondent at Gailipoli, has written an entirely new "History of the Dardanelles Campaign. The publishers state that tho book, which is illustrated and contains a series of large-scale maps, is intended not as a record of personal experience, but: as "an authoritative account of the whole campaign." James Stephens, the Irish poet and story-teller, wheso "Crock of Gold" won such' admiration, is bringing out a new book of poems entitled "Reincarnations. Tho poenik art, largolj Vinsod upon old Irish verse of from one hundred to fivo hundred years ago,