BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 244, 9 July 1921, Page 11

BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

(By

Liber.)

Citid a man o pipe he can smohe, Give a man a book he can read; 'And his home is bright with a calm delight Though the room be poor indeed. —James Thomson,

BOOKS OF THE DAY * J Ths Diary of a Yeomanry M.O. Captain. t>. Teichman, the author of ' •"The Diary of a Yeomanry M. 0.: Egypt, ■Gallipoli, Palestine, and Italy” (London, O’. Fisher Unwin), evidently did fine service during the war, for in addition to the British D.S.O. and M.C., he is entitled to wear the French and Italian decorations, tho Croix de Guerra and the Croce di Guerra. The unit to which ho was attached os a member of tho It.A.M.C. was tho Worcestershire Yeomanry. which saw some hot fighting in the Sinai Peninsula, at Suvla, and in Palestine, the author being twice wounded, at Suvla and at Romani. His Diary is a good straightforward account of his experiences, tho various operations of the Unit being described in detail, while special attention is paid to the medical side of each campaign. As a rule, ho does, not criticise, but merely records, though here and there is a little pungent comment upon mistakes mode and happenings which might, and should, have been avoided. 7'ha author emphasises tho special disadvantages under which for. so Jong, both in Egypt and Palestine, our forces suffered through tho inadequacy of the British air service. Captain TeichI)ian has a good word to say for the Turk. It is true that Abdul sometimes threw his dead mules into the wells, but on other occasions he thoughtfully left word that certain water was cholera inifected. The decency, sometimes at least, displayed by tho Turk was in strong and pleasant contrast to tho truculence and downright inhumanity of the German airmen, whom the author describes as .wilfully bombing British hospitals, their excuse being that such an' abominable action was a just reprisal for tho British bombardment of a mosquo, which, by the way, was afterwards proved, by a terrible explosion, to ■have been the enemy's principal ammunition depot at Gaza. Students of the medial side of the war will find, much interesting information in the book, the author describing the use of ants _ for clearing clothing of lico, the various measures adopted for tho securing of wholesome water, tho effect of sea-bath-ing on septic sores, and dealing with other professional matters, The book closes with an interesting account of the author’s experiences in Northern Italy, where he remained, being mainly engaged in work on the Piavo front, until the welcome arrival of the armistice. The hook contains some interesting illustrations and several excellent maps.

Sir Edward Carson. The recent retirement from active political life of the famous Ulster leader. Sir Edward! Carson, invests the appearance of a short biographical sketch of that gentleman, together with a summary of the main facts of his Parliamentary • career, with a timely and special interest. In a booklet of fifty ■ pages (John Murray, per Whitcomb«> and Tombs), Mr. Jciui Victor Bates sets forth Sir Edward's main political views end achievements, dealing more particularly with his long and zealous championship of Ulster’s interests. The Kt. Hon. A. J. Balfour furnishes an introduction, nndi an additional preface or "foreword” is contributed by Sir James Craig. Each of these gentlemen testifies to . the high esteem in which Sir Edward is held by those who know him best. Mr. Bates's concluding sentences may here bo quoted: — With the parsing of the precent Irish Bill Sir Edward will have accomplished the task which he set before himself nine lonp years ago—to establish Ulster’s right to retain her position under the Union Jack. This Bill recognises, also, the right of the Ulster Scottish race to defend themselves, their hearths, and their land against the King’s enemies and their own. So long as Ulster stands fast. Ireland, t)io Gateway of tho Empire, will be secure and tho integrity of the kingdom will bo assured. The mon of tho Imperial Province will still be compelled to struggle, as their forefathers struggled. for existence, political and commercial. Their frontier,' is long and open, and their sworn and most bitter foes, who are Britain’s foes, number three to one against them. But the Bed Hand has not lost its cunning, and the spirit of tho men who fought at Derry and Thiepval will live and conquer in Ulster generations yet unborn. Even those who may differ, as many may, from certain of the views and' opinions hold and expressed, by tho author will agree as to the evident sincerity of his enthusiasm for his old leader • end the verbal eloquence of his personal tribute. (Price, 3s. 6d.)

New Light on Marco Polo. It has been the pleasant task of a distinguished French authority on Asiatic history, Professor Henri Cordier, to supplement that classic in tho literature of travel and exploration, Sir Henry Ynlo’s "Book of Ser Marco Polo," by a volume of very valuable addenda; The title of M. Cordier's volume is "Ser Marco Polo,” notes and addenda to Sir Henry Yule’s edition, containing tho results of recent research and discovery (London: John Murray, per Whitcombe and Tombs). M. Cordier’s work embodies much fresh and important information, obtained as the result of voyages undertaken by travellers such as Sir Atirel Stein. Sven Hodin, Boiliott, Kozlov, and others, and also includes material collected by the editor from new works and from old books which hitherto had been neglected. M. Cordier’s book is on important addition to geographical and historical literature, and as u supplement to. that masterpiece of English Scholarship. Sir Henry Yule’s work on the famous Venetian voyager, is possessed of a sjiecial and distinctly high value. "Looking at Pictures.”

The masterpieces of art to which direct, reference is made in Mr. S, C. Kaines Smith's little book. "Looking nt. Pictures” (Methuen and Co.) are only known to the vast majority cf New Zealanders in reproductions. Nevertheless Mr Smith's book should be found hoth useful and entertaining by lovers of art in this country. Tho author’s object has ■been "to give to anyone who finds himself among pictures a standpoint from which t 6 exercise his personal judgment, to enjoy, and to know the reason of his enjoyment; to dislike, and to know the reason of his dislike; to understand tho purpose and to value the achievement of the painter.” The author, who was formerly a "guide-lecturer" at tho National Gallery, London, first discusses personal taste, how it is formed, and how it may ho improved by wise counsel and careful study, and then proceeds to discourse, always frankly nnd without any trace of the "superior person” or the art pedant, upon ■ such subjects as "Schools of Painting," "The Rond to Realism,” "Beauty Unadorned." "Giants of the Renaissance,” and "The Eye of tho Beholder." There is a freshness and charm in Mr. Smith’s explanations of or commentaries upon the various schools nnd certain world-famous paintings which are decidedly engaging. Tho illustrations consist of reproductions of works bv Rembrandt, Giotto, Da Vinci, Michel, angolo. Titian, Velasquez, nnj tho two great English artists, Turner and Constable, and there is a useful index. Poems bv Albert Bayldon.

From a new Australian publishing house (Edward A. Vidler, "The Oldfloete.” Collins Street, Melbourne) comes n neatly-produced little volume, "The jEwW': Collected Poems of Albert Bayl-

LIBER’S NOTE BOOK

don. Mr. Bayldon’s verse will be familiar to many New Zealanders, as much of it has appeared in such well-known periodicals as "The Bulletin.’’ "The Lone. Hand.” and “The Triad.” His muse has many moods, being at times jocund, almost jaunty, at others quite grave aud eloquent. Mr. Bayldon is clearly a keen student and sympathetic observer of Nature’s over varying moods, ns may be seen by his fine poem “The Bushman,” and it is a pity that he too often prefers to attempt versified philosophy. I select for quotation a. short poem, entitled “Conquest of the Drought”: Our hoavv battalions are mustering thick in tho' bush of a stricken world, With wings that beat nnd flutter and float like sable flags unfurled. Like a bleeding eye In a. socket of lire the striking sun, dust-dim. Glares out of a gash In the restless ranks of our marshalled armies grim. . With ambushes of lurking fog aim our allies of snow. And damping mint and soaking sleet those sure and slow; With shot of hail and volleys loud ot rushing thunder showers. We fight the fou until our massed artillery blackly lowers. And then from cliff to mountain peaK, from Bush to desert plain, Re-iound tho wash and furnace roar or cataracts of rain. An Old Story Retold. In "The Flight of the Goeben and Breslau” (London, Eveleigh Nash), Admiral Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart., G.C.V.0., K.C.8., retells tho story of one of the most exciting and memorable incidents in the early history of the Great War, to- wit, the chasing and, alas, the escape of the German cruisers the Goeben and tho Breslau. Jho bcok owes its appearance to certain passages in the first volume of Sir Julian Corbet’s History (the Official History) of tho War at Sea, published last year. Admiral Milne complains that his conduct of the operation of the squadron under his command, with regard to the Goeben and the Breslau, has been incorrectly stated and unfairly criticised by the Admiralty’s official historian.. His book is one which will make its primary and strongest appeal to those who are well versed in and thoroughly understand naval strategy. Tho author is very severe upon what he alleges to be various "inaccurate statements and injurious /reflections” •contained m Sir Julian Corbet’s account of what was undoubtedly a most mortifying episode, but he is scarcely just to the Lords ot the Admiralty in holding them responsible for Sir Julian’s statements, for, on referring to the Official History, its u'M sentences will bo found to contain a distinct declaration by tho Admiralty disavowing responsibility for his (Sir Julian’s) "reading or presentation of the facts as stated.” Evon to a layman in naval mutters, the author appears, however, to make out a very strong case in favour of his contention that both vessels might have been, intercepted and captured or destroyed had not a serious blunder been made by the Admiralty in sending out a message to Sir Berkeley on August 8, 1914 that hostilities had commenced against. Austria, a telegram the effects of which, and a later and correcting' message, are hero discussed at some length Apart from the points specially at "issue between tho Official Historian and tho author, Sir Berkeley's book throws much new and interesting light upon the earliest stages of the naval operations in. the Mediterranean generally.

The "N«w Poetry.” I confess I fail to appreciate the beauties of much of the so-called new poetry. Some time ago I read a glowing eulogy, bv Mr. Clement K. Shorter, of the Sphere,” of the verse of a Mr. Carl Sandburg. I have just coine across one of the effusions of Mi*. Sandburg, entitled "Hiker at Midnight”—whatever that may mean—and reproduce it here for the benefit of my readers. Memories, you can flick me and sting me: Memories, you can hold mo even and smooth. A circle of pearl mist horizons is not a woman to be walked up to and nor o"ohild to be taken and held for a good-night. nor any old coffee-drinking pal to be umilcd at . , . , in the eyes, and left with a grip and a handshake. Pearl memories in the mist circling the horizon, “ . flick me. sting me, hold me even and smooth. "Liber” may be very dense, hopelessly old-fashioned!, and intellectually incapable of appreciating "new” literary movements, but for the life of him he cannot understand what Mr. Sandburg is driving at. I grant tho "newness,” but whore does the "poetry” come in? Yet Mr. Shorter hails Mr. Sandburg as a genius. Well, well; it’s beyond me. The First Edition of the "Rubaiyat.” At a recent sale at Sotheby’s, the famous book auctioneers, Xll5 was paid for a first edition of Fitzgerald’s version of the "Rubaiyat” of Omar Khayyam. It was published by Quaritch, and the demand for copies was eo small that "Fitz.” in a fit of pique, told the bookseller' to put tho unsold copies in his "fourponny box.” Evon then they did not "go off,” and finally tho copies were marked "a penny.” There is a story to the effect that Dante Gabriel Rossetti purchased a copy, and forthwith became a walking advertisement for the poem. Even tho second and third editions are now rare, and bring big prices. borne few years ago a copy of the second edition. now worth at least A'4o—if in good condition-was sold, oh one of a bundle of “Assorted Pamphlets, for a shilling or so in a Wellington auction room "Liber,” alas, was not present at that sale. To Correspondents. •An Enquirer (Kaponga): "John 0. London" is the pseudonymn ot Mr. Wilfred Whitten, who was for some years assistant editor of T.P.’s Weekly He m<> North countryman by birth, but Ims made himself an. admitted authority on the history of London. Stray Leaves. A review of Sinclair Lewis s story, "Main Street,” will appear on this page shortly. For some months past this novel, which gives a vivid descnptio of life in a small provincial town: in Minnesota, has headed the list of bes Bellers.” For the second place the honours seem to be divided by Zane Grey "Mysterious Rider ’ and M’f; Wharton's "Ago of Innocence. Those who, like "Liber, confess to en joying that utterly absurd story Iha Lunatic at I-vge,” will be glad t 0 hear_ that the author, Mr. J. Store - ton, has a sequel under weigh, and coon to be published. , Cassells are shortly to publish a vol ' ume of reminiscences, Letters to Isabel,” by Lord Shaw, of Dunfermline. Tho book includes records of conversations with Gladstone, Campbell Bannerman, and others prominent in the world of politics, law. and literature. Another now Cassells book is Mr. 11. G. Wells a "Salvaging of Civilisation. Ihe theme of his book deals with "a world securely nnd permanently nt peace, an ideal which, he says, now shapes and dominates his public life. Mr. Wells’s Ixiolr will be revised in this column in a week or two.

SOME RECENT FICTION "The Spirit of the Time." Although affording a few hours’ pleasant entertainment, Mr. Robert Hichens’a latest novel, "The Spirit of tho Time,” ’(Cassell and Co., per Whitcombo and Tombs), is scarcely worthy of the pen to which we owe such distinguished fiction as "The Garden of Allah,” "The Call of the Blood,” and "Bella Donna.” The motif is far too slight to warrant two hundred and fifty pages of elaboration, although it might havo been ample for n brief sketch or short story. Tho hero, a wealthy middle-aged bachelor Englishman, Derrick Merton, finds himself at a loose, end at the of his war work, end betakes himself to Montreux for temporary distraction, At the famous Swiss health resort he meets a fascinating Russian princess, with whom he falls in love. The princess is staying at a fashionable hotel, and Dko so many other Russian refugees, runs short of ready cash. She wears a superb pearl necklace, and, on the suggestion of her friend and companion, an Austrian countess, sells her jewels to tho enamoured Mr. Merton. Unfortunately he finds, upon submitting the pearls to a famous Parisian expert, that they are merely clever imitations, and he arrives at Marseilles juot in time- to find tho prince® on the eve of departing for South America in company of a heavy Slav-looking stranger. There is a disagreeable scene at the Jiptel. and eventually the hero walks out, "cutting Ins loss, and resolving, I have no doubt, although Mr. Hichens dor's not say so, that in future he will give Russian princesses —and amateur pearl dealing—tae widest of wide berths. The cosmopolitan society at Montreux is cleverly described, but tho author fails to make it clear whether the princess is really an adventuress, and that her affected acceptance of the Englishman’s love was a mere blind, or whether she is not to bo pitied as the victim of circumstances. It wou.d bo difficult for Mr. Hichens .to be dull, but ho oomes very near it in this very unsatisfying story. "Hunger.”

Knut Hamsun, the author of "Hunger” (Duckworth and Co., per Whitcomb© and Tombs), is a distinguished Norwegian novelist, who has a long list of stories to his credit, and who was the recipient of tho Nobel Prize for Literature last year. In an introduction to tho present novel,, tho well-known English writer, "George Egerton,” warmly eulogises Hamsun’s gift of “probing into tho unexplored crannies in tho human soul, tho mysterious territory of uncontrollable, half-conscious mysteries." Truth to tell, if Hamsun’s work is to bo judged by "Hunger,” it is rather too psychological to win favour from the average English reader. "Hunger” is a mere sketch, expanded, quite unnecessarily, so many may consider, to close on 300 pages. It is the record of the sufferings, mental and physical, of a brilliantly-gifted journalist in Christiania, whose talents fail to find recognition, and who, at times, is close to actual starvation. No doubt tno novelist’s analysis of his hero’s sufferings is ablv done, but I am afraid most readers will be repelled by Hamsun’s unrelievedly drab and dismal descriptions of distressing and sordid scenes. There is a brief "sex episode” in the story, but it is scarcely to bo considered an attractive feature, and is certainly not characterised by good taste. That novelists of the first rank such as Hardy and Conrad should have been overlooked, nn< the Nobel Prize for Literature accorded to the author of "Hunger” may well have caused surprise and given rise to adverse criticism. ‘‘Carroty Broon.”

Since Barrie’s "Sentimental Tommy there has been no better story of Scottish schoolboy life than Mr. A. 8. Neil s "Carroty Broon” (London, Herbert Jenkins). As all who read “ The Dominies Log” and its successors, "A Dominic Dismissed” and "A Dominie in Doubt, will cheerfully testify, Mr. Neill i» true humourist, specially and most happily at homo in describing school Hie of both masters and pupils. Peter Brown, locally known, owing to the of his hair-colouring, as Carrot. Broon," is a delightfully human boy, a first cousin to Tom Sawyer the Great, a source of constant bewilderment, plus some occasionally serious worry, , his relative and the schoolmaster. Peter’s examination by on unusually - telligent and sympathetic inspector, I "love passages," with certain youthful maidens of tho little village of Garlle, his various economies and extravagances, his “converstete’-ai/teiuled, alas by merely temporary result—his attempts at au-thorship-of all these and many ofhei experiences and happenings in '! roly's” life vou may read in Mr Neill s pages. Tho supplementary ch “ r ‘ w f" sketches in particular that of the HI fated "sister of the hero are crisp and convincing. Mr. Neill’s humour is often S, but his satire is -u ulated. and such sentiment as Js and there’s not too much of it nW true and never savours of th<* eaccuai ine. A very jolly book.

“Ellen Levis.” “Ellen Levis,” by Elsie (Hougliton. Mifflin Co., per AustialasIn "Publishing Co. and whitcombe and Tombs) is a rather lengthy but veiy carefully drawn study of life in an American country town. The heroine come of a Pennsylvanian German family, a is possessed of intellectual gifts which 3 :nriromn«it, SO oF"n e r varied «- perienccs-sonie of ttan ota aeta ? etl of the U » >o Vo and jealousy tie, of the ree lll ’’ , f ] fir g llft i union Ringmaster tells in n. unfailingly interesting stoi.y. "Leonie of the Jungle. Amiinst what is, in the main, a vividly picturesque Indian, Miss Joan Conquest in “Leonie ol tlie Jungle (T. Werner I,auric), gives us a somewhat lurid romance, the heroine of which, the daughter of an Anglo-Indian officer a V.C., has been taken when «n infant to an Indian temple and there been "sealed” to the horrible goddess Kali whilst under tne mesmeric influence of a native priest. The influence remains potent throughout c ll)1 ‘ lhood and girlhood, and is responsible for the voting lady behaving- at times so strangeiv as to give rise to the suspicion that she is a good deal more than merely “queer.” She is induced by a world y and hard-up old cat of an aunt to sell herself to a rich vulgarian, and on the death of this peculiarly objectionable person, goes out to India, which she has not revisited si neo her infancy. Here, as the result of the “influence, she goes through some very extraordinary experiences, ending up by an escape fiom a peculiarly horriljle death in the temple of Kali, the "lifting of the influence, and—tliis goes without saying 1)1 tl,is class of fiction-her marriage te a handsome and in every way desirab.e Mr. Right.” Melodramatic, grotesquely improbable in certain of its detaih, but none the loss a vigorously written and exciting story. „_. m