BOOKS and AUTHORS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 85, 4 January 1930, Page 26

BOOKS and AUTHORS

A Weekly Survey

By ‘

“Liber”

Give a man a pipe he can smoke, 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

Hakluyt’s Voyages. Hakluyt’s great work, “The Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation,” which has justly been called “the prose epic of the modern English nation,” was first published In 1589, a much enlarged edition being completed In 1000. A complete Hakluyt in one volume is, of course, impossible, but Mr. Basil Blackwell, Oxford publisher, has managed to give us the best of Hakluyt in the handsome volume of selections published by him. The text used is that of the Maelehose Edition of Edinburgh long out of print, and that which forms the Everyman Library edition is reprinted. The selection and arrangement of this edition is the work of Mr. A. 8. Mott, M.A., who is to be congratulated upon the skill which he has shown in picking the eyes, as it were, out of Hakluyt. He commences with John Cabot’s “Prima Vista,” thence proceeding to the various accounts dealing with the discovery of the North-east and North-west Passages. Next ho gives selections which deals with the exploits of the English merchant ad■venturers in the Mediterranean, the British defying of the Portuguese along the Guinea Coast, and Hakluyt’s noble and soul-stirring description of the doings of the Elizabethans, Francis and John Oxenham in the West Indies and on the Spanish Main, when English seamen and adventurers made the name of England one to conjure with. Next we are given a resume of Drake’s “Voyage Round the World,” of the Elizabethan naval war with Spain, the rout of the. Armada and that noblest of English war epics, the “Last Fight of the Revenge.” The selection closes with the discovery of Montreal, the- death of Sir Humphrey Gilbert; the romantic story of the fifteen brave fellows left in Virginia by Sir Richard Grenville,-and the discovery and romantic story of Guiana. The publisher has Wisely added to the attractions of a volume which will -make special appeal to youthful readers by entrusting Mr. H. R. Millar with the illustrations, which include a frontispiece; in colour, and several full-page black and white drawings, whilst the general’ Utility of the work has been greatly enhanced by the maps of Mr. E. H. Fitchen. The result is a useful and most attractive summary <f Hakluyt, whose family name was long wrongly attributed in many editions .to the Dutch, whereas it was Welsh. Born in or near London, in about 1552, Hakluyt was all his life interested in geographical, especially in the American discoveries, and adventures of British-, seamen and merchantmen and adveu--turers. He was a true Englishman, a’ Queen’s Scholar of Westminster School, completing his education at Christ College, Oxford, He entered the church, becoming, in time, Archdeacon of Westminster, dying in 1616, and being honoured by burial in Westminster Abbey; Wherever and whenever the story of England’s exploits in the seven seas comes to be told, there and then will the name of Richard Hakluyt-be honoured (10/6).

Art in Australia. , “Art in Australia” (Bond Street, Sydney), in its. December;' or Christmas, issue, .is an. exceptionally interesting number, being a Tasnjijnian special number. The colour •’ plates’ include plates by Harold Herbert, of Melbourne;', John Edershaw, of Duryll, Lindsay (a water qplour full of light and spirit), and J. Connor, whilst the moderns represented in the black and white section, include a fine series of drawings by Mr. Sydney Ere Smith, J. A. Moore, and others. There are also water colour facsimiles by Lieut Simpkinson de Winslow, an artist of some distinction, a contemporary and fellow student of Turner and Skinner Prout. His work is largely represented in the Hobart Art Gallery, where his drawings of old Tasmania are always greatly admired. Mr. Clive Lord, curator of the Hobart Gallery, contributes a wellwritten article of Tasmanian scenery, “Tasmania,, the Romance of Tasman’s Isle,” a valuable and most interesting series of photographs,by J. W. Beattie, of Hobart, accompanying Mr. Lord’s article, and- reproducing some of the most famous bits of Tasmanian scenery. Altogether. this is an out-of-the-way and ip many ways specially interesting number,, to which the editor- has added a section, of Australian, applied art, selected from some of the most'notable of Sydney collections. Next year there will be representative gatherings of the best work of Australian architects.

Goldsmith’s “Vicar of Wakefield.” One of the most popular gift books this ought to foe Messrs. Harrap and Co.’s edition, with illustrations by Arthur Rockham, of Goldsmith’s “Vicar-of Wakefield" (Harrap and Co.). We all have heard the story of this famous book, how poor, happy-go-lucky Noll, who, as someone said of him, “wrote like an angel but talked like poor Poll,” sent one day a note of despair' to Dr. Johnson, begging him to come to his assistance, as he had been arrested for debt. Johnson sent him a guinea, and following after, found Goldy had already sent for a bottle of wine over which to discuss the situation. Common-sense Johnson promptly corked the bottle, when Goldsmith informed him, his only asset was a story which the doctor took away and sold to the booksellers for sixty pounds, which served to discharge the debt for which the author had been arrested. There are several variants of the story, <but Boswell vouches for the version he quotes, and we may fairly accept that. How many times the “Vicar” has been reprinted I would not like to speculate. Personally. I prefer the edition published by Macmillans to which the Illustrations were done by the late Hugh Thomson, but the Rockham edition has many good points of its own. Rockham has tine gifts of imagination, but his special trick of reproducing a warped, gnarled tree does not offer many opportunities in the “Vicar.” I like his Mrs. Primrose, and the lovely Olivia, and his Vicar is to my mind even a better drawing that Hugh Thomson could have done. The full-page coloured plates are admirable, and the black and white drawings in the text are often very graceful. The result is a very beautiful edition of the famous eighteenth century classic, the most typically English story ever written, and one which can never lose its charm. (19/-).

A Book For I’aclitsinen. In “The Britannia and Her Contemporaries” (Methuen and Co.), Major Heckstall Smith tells the story of that famous racing yacht which, built for King Edward, thirty-six years ago, is still racing successfully with modern vessels. The illustrations cover the whole of the period and include (he, Satanilla, the Meteor. Astra,. Herrisbof and the Shamrock. The author is a fiptbwa&iG yachtsman aisi

gives the liveliest description of the old days. King Edward was a warm supporter, and with the advent of King. George, and the interest displayed in yachting by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York there need be no fear that the interest of Royalty in what is specially a Royal sport, is likely to diminish. The photographs, which are well reproduced, are from originals by Messrs. Beken and Sons. Cowes. The whole volume may be said to be an encyclopaedic guide to British yachting during the past thirty or forty years, and as a picture gallery alone should be of interest wherever yachtsmen are gathered together. (16/-.) ( England in the Nineteenth Century. Mr. A. F. ■ Freemantle, author of “England in the Nineteenth Century, 1801-1805” (George Allen and Unwin), is an ex-Clvil Servant whose hobby has always been the studying of English history.- His father, Admiral the Hon. Sir-Edward Freemantle, served under one of Nelson’s frigate captains, whilst his great-grandfather was. one of Nelson’s captains and a great, friend of his as well. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he- entered the Indian Civil Service, saw active service during the war, as.an Indian cavalry officer on the Persian frontier, in 1923, lyinterested in his work, and particularly .in administrative and economical problems, left India for good and decided to devote himself to the study of his country’s history, the nineteenth century. .. The author gives a’ detailed picture of Great Britain and her. Empire 'at the close of the eighteenth century, and goes on to tell how' she fared -during the few strenuous years which followed while she was engaged with her titanic struggle with Napoleon. The Parliamentary, military and diplomatic sides of the story are all touched on; in particular the economic side is fully dealt with. It will be observed that all accounts of several important parts of-the Empire, notably Scotland, India and Australia, have been omitted from the volujne. Chapters on these subjects,- together with a chapter on the state of literature, art-and ’ science, and as well, other general narrative up to. 1810,? have been prepared and will be issued should the present volume receive a favourable verdict ’ from’ the public. (19/-.) ' ' R. M. Crace, Box 9, Lougburn, wants to give a friend the best New Zealand novel, and asks my opinion as “to.what novel holds that distinction.” I ain sorry not to oblige;- but' there are so many New Zealand novels, if is so difficult to select. The'best-thing my correspondent can do is to ■ consult . the nearest bookseller, say,-Mr. Bennett, of Palmerston North. . ' LIBER’S NOTEBOOK “Alice in Wonderland,” , “Through the Looking Glass,” have been- trans? lated into German, and published in Vienna. All the “Alice” series may now be. had in one.volume, with the original Tenniel illustrations, lu the wonderfully cheap ,a*nd . good Everyman’s Library. ... ...-. . Recent Home .papers, report the death, at the early, age of 40, of the ppet, Mr. John Freeman., “Stone Trees and Other Poems” (1916) was his first' collection, but I have pleasant memories of two volumes of literary- criticism; including a. fine , study of George Moore, and a book oh Herman Melville, the American, whose “Moly Dick” achieved such a success some four or five, years ago. Amongst Freeman’s own hovels were “This, My Son” and “Tan of BelsCy’s,” the latter a? vigorously told novel, dealing with..' life’ oh ■ the ironbound coast of Noya, Scotia. '

The present. British- Prime Minister was, it appears; one of the characters in Peggy Weblings novel, Felia Carrel, MacDonald figures therein as a character named Jlr. Ferguson; oue of a little band of artistic admirers.of Martin Anderson, formerly .well-known as “Cyhicus,!'. whose cartoons, coloured by the artist, had some vogue in the later ’eighties. The manuscript of the highly successful play “Journey’s End” was sold to Sir Walter Lawrence for £l5OO at the end of October. . The purchaser gave the manuscript-to the nation, the money realised going to the League of. Nations Union.' The same day a New' York dealer bought the manuscript of Goldsmith’s-“. Haunch of Venison" for £4SOQ, whilst the -MSS. of -Dickens’s “Schoolboy’s Story,” the original of which was given by Dickeps to an Irish friend, brought, over £2OOO. To the London. “Sunday Times” Lord Darlipg contributes a scathing parody of Kipling’s well-known lines which he call® “Revisional.” Lord Darling hits the "Pacifist” very hard whfti he writes • —

Sons of the men who died to save Ye daughters who prolong their lives— All English homes, be basely brave; The glow that they won resign. Proud Pacifists that are with us yet, Let us forget.

Call tender conscience to your aid— Cal! every foe they fought your friend, Remepiber not where they, are laid, Who did for us their all expend, 'T’were costly to discharge the debt, . Let us forget—let us forget.

The monument to soldiers reared That laurel wreaths each year adorn, Shall stand in praise of them who feared. By tremblers shall the bay be worn. Ou. Commerce, let our souls be set — Forget the dead, as they forget.

Becky Sharp was drawn from life. Lady Richmond Ritchie said she was drawn by Thackeray from a lady who lived to become the-Countess de la Torre and to be a prominent figure in the London Police Courts as a persistent keeper of favourite cats. Oscar Wilde, in his “Intentions,” wrote, some years ago, after the appearance of “Vanity Fair,” that she ran away with the nephew of the lady with whom she was staying, and for a short time cut a big dash in society, quite in Mrs. Rawdon Crawley’s style, and entirely by Mrs. Crawley’s methods. Ultimately she came to grief, disappeared to the Continent anil.used occasionally to be seen at Monte Carlo and other gambling places. Andrew Lang, in

his “Old Friends,” makes Mrs. Rawdou “taken up” for a time by good Mrs. Proudie, wife of Bishop Proudie, of Barchester. But the Bishop s wife found her out in time. More than 11,000 people visited the Stevenson Memorial House, No. 8 Howard Place, Edinburgh, during 19.8, so it was stated at the annual meeting of the Robert Louis Stevenson Club. The best, certainly the liveliest, description of the house may be found in Christopher Morley’s “Shandygaff,” the first published collection of Morley s scattered essays, and containing many of bis best essays on Oxford, where he was one of the first two American Rhodes Scholars. , Mrs. Claude Beddingtotn, who writes a very amusing volume of literary and other reminiscences; “All That I Have Met,” is a kinswoman of the author of “John Halifax, Gentleman.” and of Miss Braddon, of' “Lady Audley’s Secret” fame, and of’her nephew, Mr. Maxwell; the ; novelist. The forgotten Poet Laureate, Alfred Austin, married one of her aunts. A female relative of the poet asked a niece of Lord Salisbury, “Why on earth the Poet Laureateship was granted to a more than mediocre poet like Austin.” She answered because “it was the only honour Mr. Austin would accept from the Government as a reward for his long years of service to the Conservative cause.” The poet, two books from whose library, with his very charming bookplate, came into “Liber’s” possession some years ago, was a most diminutive specimen of humanity, and Mrs. Bettington tells with some glee how his wife would, after calling “Alfred,” everywhere pretend to look for him among the sofa cushions. ’ • . It is not often nowadays that “Liber” finds himself approving of what Arnold Bennett may say, but there is a lot of truth in what he writes in bis contribution to “The Legion Book;": "Better that a thousand ex-service men should be overpaid (although they won’t be) —

better that a hundred should extract money and attention from us by false pretences tiffin that one ex-service man’ should go to bed at night with the sense of a genuine grievance.” . Hear; hear! 1

SOME RECENT PLAYS ’ Mr. Hutchinson’s Latest. ■> . ” r If “The Increasing Purpose’ mark-j ed a steady advance upon “If Winter Comes,” th? advance made.by. Mr. Hutchinson In his “Uncertain Trumpet” (Hutchinson and Co.), testifies, to the-, fine progress made in the. literary progress of this author. It is for a major part a tribute to the part, played by the Rev; David Quest in the social and religious life of the. village of Ashton Parra, mainly at the instigation of one Father Absolute, an Anglo-Catholic. We pre early introduced to the Heritage family, to Sir Pelham Heritage and his young wife, Dawn, and to Banjo Heritage, half-brother of ’ Sir Pelham, a maii given way tb drink but none the less- a most lovable fellow, who has a medical degree, but does not practice, but who, as the story proceeds, develops a passionate love for his half-bro-ther’s wife. Mr. Hutchinson is specially clever in bis description of Quest’s character. Sir Pelham, who is nothing if not traditional and conventional in his view on religion, and on the part properly to be played by the Church, at the. first fails, to appreciate Quest’s good’ qualities, but certain domestic tragedies in the Heritage family, notably the death in the hunting field of ■Admiral Heritage, and of Jim Heritage, cause him to alter his opinion. Early in the . book we make the acquaintance of Paddock, “batman” and general utility to Banjo, who is one of the most, amusing figures to whom Mr. Hutchinson, has yet introduced us, and to Mrs. Glumday, a typical figure of broad, farce the mild tyranny over whom'of Mrs. Pasture Is a triumph of low comedy.. Subsidiary characters are the curiously named fox-hunting family, the Flagg-Wallopers, who, in their devotion, to the sport - of . “ jinting.”’ might have stepped out of Bob Surtees or Anthony Trollope. With-the FlaggWallopers, if a man dies not care for hunting, there.ls little left in life worth living for, and neither Sir Pelham ■ Heritage,! -who. is interested mainly in picking up rare pieces,”, nor David fall in with. the chief mania and the countryside of Ashton Magna and Ashton, Parva. Mr. Hutchinson un-.‘ winds the tale of his narrative a little slowly,tand he might have been a little more definite in his story of Banjo’s passionate attachment to Lady Heritage, which, David once discovering, sets hjmself to thwart by bringing Banjo and his half-brother, Sir Pelham, together, the neer-do-well suddenly deciding to “cut out” the liquor and to go’ off to South Africa, there to take ’up medical practice; afresh and to lead a new . life. The part played by Sir Pelham's now fully awakened affection for.his wife by Father Absolute and the share this has in making David Quest not merely a parson, but a man, is very strongly described. Another good feature if the affection of Mrs. Pasture for her scapegrace son, and Mrs. Pasture’s share in his forgiveness, but indeed all the way through the novel, Mr. Hutchinson is continually introducing new and interesting characters. David Quest and Banjo will not readily be forgotten. It is seldom that an English novelist has been more successful in reproducing country, and more especially, rectory society. The Near ami the Far. 1

Mr. L. H. Myers, the author of "The Near and the Far” (Jonathan Cape), avows quite frankly that he has put his own construction on Indian history, but although be has taken serious liberties with fact, his Story of Akbar the Great Mogul has features of its own which may well be forgiven the author for the flowing grace of his narrative. Finely drawn characters are Akbar’s brother-in-law, Hari Khan, passionate alike in his loves and adventures,' Slta, his Christian wife, who exercises, such a curious spell upon

those around her, and Gokal, the aged Buddhist metaphysician. G Akbar’s dream of founding a comprehensive Church of all faiths is set forth with no small skill, which no doubt we shall see developed in the second or sequel story, “The Root and the Flower.”

A Jules Verne Omnibus Book. In the 1168 pages of the “Jules Verne Omnibus Book” (Golluucy), Mr. Harwood has managed to pack five of the most popular and best-known of Jules Verne’s romances, including his “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” "Around the World in Eighty Days," “Floating Island,” “The Blockade Runners,” and "Hector Servadac.” The book, says Mr. Harwood, is “primarily intended for the use of uncles.” The uncle, as he says, 'will “not deem himself properly equipped unless he has bought six copies of the volume, one for himself and five for his nephews “Life” does full well, the delight with which many of the earlier Jules Verne books were bought—and read—he can testify to the pleasure the youthful reader will derive from these astonishing yarns of imagination. Phiueas Fogg, the hero of “Round the World in Eighty Days,” is well worth renewing acquaintance with. '(10/6.)

Gold Bullets. ■ , - “Gold? Bullets,” by Charles G. Booth (Hodder and- Stoughton) deals with the mystery attaching to the death jof a Californian, mining magnate, Andrew Ogden, who is found mysteriously murdered in his home, having cried out “Gold' bullets" before .be died stabbed in the back. His son Jerry, with whom Ogden had quarrelled over the opening up of a deserted gold mine in the “ghost town” by Torriditz, suspected of die murder. Jerry ’is : in-love ' with Lucy Peebles, whose uncle is passionately attached to her, and believes firmly in Jerry’s innocence. The mystery attached to “Gold Bullets” goes back a good many years to time, much ingenuity and patience result in the discovery of the real truth as to Andren Ogden’s death.- which is proved to have 'quite unexpected origin. A well-told ! mystery yarn, which will baffle many readers. '