LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 275, 14 August 1920, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

"The Haunted Bookshop."

"Liber's"' review of. Christopher Moray's "Haunted Bookshop" has had, I hear, the effect of causing quite a rush for tho book at the Wellington shops. Apropos to this amusing and wholesomo story I read, in a recent Neiv York paper, that tho American Booksellers' Association, at its annual convention held at) Philadelphia, in Maryland, "conferred on Roger Mifflin, the delightfully (vhimsical old bookseller of. 'The Haunted Bookshop/ the honorary degree of doctor of bookselling." At the occasion of the presentation Mr. Morky introduced Roger Mifflin, who was cleverly impersonated by Mr. C. It. Crowell, manager of Doubleday, Pago's retail book stores. The presentation was made by the editor of "The Publishers' Weekly," and Roger "Mifflin replied in a short address on the art ,of selling books.

A Tribute to Thomas Hardy. In a recent number of "The Athenaeum" Mr. Eden Philpotts, whose Dartmoor novels owe so much to the influenco of Thomas Hardy's work in fiction, pays an eloquent poetical tribute to the author of .the Wessex novels, who recently celebrated his eightieth birthday. To wisdom, truth and beauty dictate. With vision clear as cloudless break of day, You mark man on his immemorial way Itousine old echoes down tho aisles of fate; Unwearied yet. the mysterr meditate; ■Decipher motive, balance and survey; Reveal the invincible nredestinate, ' I Austerely silent touching "yea" and "nay," 0 steadfast master, now your nilcrlmaee Lightß a new constellation on our Bky,A starry wonder'and a. heritaue Immortal in its pure htfm.inij.v. ThrouKh life's frustrated hope and desolate truth Shall ever shine the beacon of your ruth. A Cheap French Series,

It has long been a source of complaint that cheap French books (reprints) are of so awkward a size, having to bo laid flat on a shelf instead of being placed Upright like an ordinary volume. I see that a new series, the Bibliotheque Plon, is being published by the well-known Pan's firm, E. Plon, Nourrit and Cie, tho volumes of which will bo a small octavo,, and published at the exceedingly moderate price of two francs each— about 3s. to 3s. Gd. here. Tho series includes novels by - Paul Bourget, Henri Greville, and other well-known writers, also historical works, such as the famous "Marbot Memoirs," ono of the most readable of books on the Napoleonic wars ever published. It is to be hoped that copies of this very promising 6eries may reach New Zealand in due course, for there is herd an ever-increasing demand for good. French books.

Stray Leaves. Literary criticism as America understands it. The "New York, Evening Post" says, apropos to a forthcoming neiv book of verso by Alfred Noycs:—"We hope Mr. Noyes will devote tho summer to writing othor staves as fine as those in 'Orpheus and Eurydice' and 'The Companions- of a Mile.' When he gives tho slip to what he conceives to bo his dogged, doggoned, dogmatic duty there are few who_ can waltz through a ripping ballad with the same abandon." And, a«ain: "The Cairn of Stars," by Francis Cai'lin:—"Mr. Carlin used to bo a floorwalkor at Macy's store. We don't know if he still is. Im his poetry ho walks tho sky.". , That striking novel "The Great Hunger." by Johan Bojer, tho Norwegian author, whose _ remarkable story "The Power of a Lie," was reviewed in this column a few months ago, is being prepared for "movie" presentation, Bojer's novels are having, I read, nn immense sale, having been translated iiito quite n number of European languages. "Tho Power of a Lio" received tho honour of ]>eing "crowned" by the French Academy. At last the big biography of Lord Beaconslield, which, commenced by tho late Mr. Moneypenny, has been continued by Mr. G. E. Buckle, formerly editor of "The Times," is to bo completed by the issuo,' very shortly, of the two concluding—tho fifth and sixth—volumes. It is to be hoped that later on this monumental work will bo judiciously epitomised.

"We're out to fight the Germans, nit one another."—The late Lord Kitchener, as quoted by his biographer.

"Clemence Dano" is the nom de plume of Miss Winifred Ashton. Her'latcst novel, "Legend," js a strange, but very fasoinating, study of a woman of genius. Earlier stories from the same elcver pen were "Regiment of Women" and "First the Blade." "Clemence Dane" is regarded in London feminist circles as being easily the first amongst lady novelists of the day.

A week or so ago, in a review of that markable story of a coalmiuer's life, 'he Underworld," I mentioned that a

first edition of 30,000 copies was soon sold out. From Inter English'papers I Rather that up to tho end of April no fewer than 72,000 copies had been sold. That is the result of producing a*'good novel at a reasonable price (2s. Gd. in England; 3s. 6d. N.Z.). And if one publisher can do this why cannot others?

The English magazines continue to rise in price, the paper shortage being still tho excuse. The Nineteenth Century, for instance, which in pre-war flays used to cost half a crown a number, is now priced at four shillings. As fot tho price of binding, it continues to rise by leaps and bounds (no pun intended). A librarian friend of nvine showed me tho other day an account for binding from his London agents. Before the war tho prico for binding (half-calf) a volume of the "Nineteenth Century" or "Fortnightly Review" was thrco and ninepence. To-day it is close upon fourteen shillings! A new collection of essays by Henri Bergson is announced under the title "Mind Energy." Professor E. Wildon Carr has done the English translation. In another new work by Bergson tho method of philosophical intuition is dealt with, together with the most recent developments of philosophical' theory.