WIDE SEAS AND MANY LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 17

WIDE SEAS AND MANY LANDS.

A Woman’s Strange Journey Along a Via Dolorosa "The Odyssey of a Lonely Woman." bv Alma Karlin, transitiled by Emile Burns (London: Gollancz). Few people could read this strange record of travel iu many lands without feeling strong admiration, not untouched with pity, for the author. If was not for pleasure that Fraulein Karlin went wandering through the world; aud it was not on business, either, though being a good Journalist she made full use of the excellent copy that came her way. ft is difficult to say just what it was that kept urging her on from place to place, or rather what it was that sent her off in the beginning from her home in Austria. For one could think of a thousand reasons for leaving some of the towns she visited ami none at all for staying, except the all-powerful one —lack of money—that frequently kept her there. Fraulein Karlin is a language expert —she mentions having in her muchbattered trunk a dictionary in ten languages compiled by herself. So perhaps it was natural that, being young aud having already had some success as a writer, she should picture hersell "a modern Uolombus discovering a new world.” But even a Uolombus needs money and it was Fraulein Karlins misfortune that she rarely had sufficient to do more than pay tier tare to the next port of call. Sometimes she did not even have that. Then she had, by teaching or any other work that fell to her bauds, to scrape aud save and lialf-starve herself, often for months at a time, until at last she was free to enter upon another stage of her pilgrimage. Of course, from the point of view of tire experience which makes her book so valuable, this chronic lack 01. money had great compensations. The first-class traveller rarely sees a true picture of the countries be visits. He is surrounded always by people of his own caste aud the landscape unfolds itself to his eyes as to a watcher of a travel lilm. Fraulein Karlin, travelling third because tnere was no fourth, saw the true life aud mixed intimately and often with repugnance with the masses that form the main stratum and the real foundation of any society. Thus at Arequlpa, iu Bern, lonely and frightened among a set of men who seemed to regard any unattached woman as their natural prey, living iu a ramshackle room, she slaved lor the money to take her to Panama. Once there she fared little better at rirst, but later achieved the post ol otlieial interpreter of the town and province and for a while was happy. Then on again by steamer, touching at Costa Rica, Corinto, Amapala, San Salvador, La Libertad, and many other places, till romantic iu name, but hardly living up to romance in reality. And so eventually to Japan, a country she loved and which she delightfully describes iu the most pleasant part of Iter book. While there she worked for the German Embassy and this seems to have been the only time iu all her travels, except the latter part of her stay in Panama, when she was not weighted with financial cares. From Japan she went naturally to Korea and Manchuria and spent an exciting lime in China, living as usual as close as she could to the normal life of the people. Her.sojourn there came to an end with the summer, fclie could not afford the outlay necessary for clothes to brave the vigours of a Peking winter. Next came visits to the Philippines, North Borneo, and then Australia and later on across the Tasman to New Zealand, where her splendid narrative abruptly ends, on the eve of her departure to the South Sea Islands, which, tantalisingly, she calls "the most important part of my voyage round the world.”

This is a book of personal experiences and impressions faithfully and frankly set down. its tone is frequently bitter and its pages tinged with disillusionment, but there is a stamp of obvious truth upon it all. There are passages which possibly may shock some readers and there are occasional statements made upon a too-basty survey of the facts. Yet it is a fascinating record of a very brave woman. And, having read to the end of it. there is consolation in knowing that more is to come in a second volume shortly to be published. WAR YEARS OF AN ANZAC "Jacka’s .Mob,” by E. J. Kulc (Sydney: Angus and Robertson). From his home in Oxford Mr. John Masefield has shown approval of this personal record of war years 111 Gallipoli and Flanders by writing a foreword that is wholly panegyric on the Anzac soldier. The subject is, of course, beloved ot Mr. Masefield: witness “Gallipoli” ; and this foreword to an Australian cx-digger s contribution to the ebbing stream of war reminiscences is of a similar tenor to passages in that famous book. It can easily be seen that a lair halt of Mr. Rule's inspiration in having published what is little more than a straightout record of bls war experiences is frankly mature hero worship for a great soldier and a close friend in the trenches. The title gives a strong hint, and one has not far to read in the opening pages to see the name of the young Australian V.C.. Sergeant Jaeka. later captain. Th? author and he were bi the same company at Gallipoli, and they were never tar from each other in France. It was probably Captain Jacka's death in Australia little more than a year ago that caused this book to be written, or rather compiled from a personal diary. The diary has been amplified and edited into narrative form, but the book still holds some of the rough vigour of impressions at first hand ,and thus qualifies in the great essential of all war publications. THE LATEST THRILLERS "Death of a Illidge Expert” by Nicolet (London: Gollancz). A detective story, as the jacket says, lor bridge experts. also for four bridge players, also for those who don't play bridge ami those who don't play cards at all. Incidentally a rattling good mystery. “Why Shoot a Butler?” by Georgette Heyer (London : Longmans). A wellworked out solution, involving some very fast work toward the end. “The Dead Don't Bile" by Douglas (.. Browne (London: Methuen). A mystery involving minder and robbery that should keep the best solvers busy. "The Box From Japan .by Harry Stephen Keller (London: Ward. Lock). The chance purchase ol a ' strange box loads the buyers straight into a maze ol perplexities and considerable excitement. ♦‘The Woiiwi in Black” by I Icrbcrt Adams (London: .Methuen). Another mystery story from Ihe author ot Ihe I’aiilto'n Plot” is very welcome. “The Great I .Ing He!” by Wyndham Martyn (London: Jenkins). Anthony 'l’i‘pnl this; liiu" niter a filial mb\. “Ti e Sliding Death” by Kennedy Brtme (London: Jenkins). Thrills and death in I be Far East.

VARIETY IN THE NOVEL “She Saw Them Go By," by Hester A. Chapman (London: Gollnncz) ; ‘‘Snow in Harvest," by Joanna Canmiu (London: .-ladder and Stoughton); "Green Corn.” by Betty Asawilh (London: GoilanczL With tile reappearance of the long picaresque novel, ol the long historical novel, and the long Jironicle of family history lor generation alter generation, it was perhaps inevitable that sooner or later some one would turn once again to Rurilauia. Miss Chapman sets her scene somewhere in the Balkans, in Zarayia to be exact, a country ruled by descendants of the ancient and noble house of Tohia-Streltsburg, and long since swallowed up by surrounding states after the Treat.v ol \ er.sailles. She shows, through the eyes of a young h.nglish girl, companion to the I’rinceas l.lngmar. the inner workings and lilial overthrow of the court, round about Hie year 1870. By the traditional and effective means of mirrnting her story in the first person, of switching from plot to counterplot. revolution to eon nler-revohd ion, with a generous sprinkling ol love affairs and attempted assassinations, she gives to the render at the end of every chapter a shock of surprise. ‘Phis excellent tale of grand dukes, mysterious countesses. exiled- royally, faithful attendant turned red-hot revolutionary, with its trimmings of court brilliance. ballroom splendour, secret passages, and underground rivers thrown iu. is in the best Ruritanian nuimier. The descriptions of the royal country estates and the snow-set square as seen lor the first time by the English miss, are admirably done, but it is the picture, ol Prince’Phillip, most charming of villains, that remains longest in the mind. . . (Icoffrey Quarrier. a young and rising member of the British Icmbassy in St. Petersburg, is faced in the o]ieuing chapter of “Snow in Harvest” witli that webknown problem. ‘‘Wlitit should A do.' Geoffrey has contrived at a dinner party that his host. Veslovsky, an p lions fellow, whose amusement it is to leniain sober while his guests, usually very young men, are made beastly drunk, should himself be led on to drink as much as the others, with the result that the unfortunate fellow dies of heart failure. Geoffrey gives the answer to this problem by banding in his resignation and returning Io England, where bis knowledge of languages lands him in the chair of Russian studies at Oxford. He meets and marries the typically nice English girl whose new stains as wife imbues her with the determinaliou to be the model, up-to-dul f - .coin puiiion nml mother. A higlily-prim'ijded woman, interested in "new thought.” an active member on Women's Institutes, a. keen reader of Aldous Huxley ami the “Week-end Review.” she counts I lie calories and vaunts the vitamins in Geoffrey’s food, believes in “seeing tilings straight." io the extent of employing private agents '<> spv on him. and of frying the unpleasant ways of the Hivorce Court when she hears that Geoffrey was observed coming from (lie rooms of an old ballet-dancing friend of his Russian days, nt seven in the morning. Miss Caiman develops and rounds off her story neatly, with many thrusts ut conlemnornry ways. The foibles of her minor characters are set down with the touch of malice that makes them amusing.

The fliii'd novel on the list differs from the first ami second in every respect. The first, two novelists tnive only enlerlainnienl in view—Rurit.'iiila made exciting, an Oxford don made into an amusing, if sympafhotic figure. Miss Betty Askv.’ifli. as those who read that, perfect little story, "Seven Basketfuls.” she wrote in collaboration with Theodora Benson, will remember, has an extraordinary gift for presenting in most, convincing fashion and entering into the life of a young girl. AVhat her characters feel, from nursery to Parisian finishing school, from coniiir.'out dance to the season in London, should be unimportant, hut. with Miss Askwith. never is. Miranda ami Anne have no monetary cares, they are at home with shooting ami hunting parties in the country, and among zossipin.ir literary circles in the town, they confide their first affairs tn each other, ami yearn hopelessly for the more attractive of their men friends. They move wit Ilin the most limited bounds, ami vet they contribute to a storv of exquisite grace and eliarm. The I rifling of the first ami second part., of this book leaves the reader unprepared for the moving ami beautiful third part. It is not often that a disaster like that, which overtakes Miranda is kept to free from sentimentality. FABIAN VIEWS ON RUSSIA "Twelve Studies in Soviet Russia” (London : Gollnncz). This book summarises the impressions formed by members of the Labour Movement who visited Russia on behalf ofjlie New Fabian Research Bureau. Each member made, as far as a limited tour permitted, systematic attempts to ascertain the truth regarding Soviet life ami organisation. In reviewing the economic system tin? writers commend the fact that everything in Russia is done according to a preconceived plan. That programmes do not always work to plan is. in part, due to the shortage of skilled labour. This same shortag; l accounts lor the uiiiiexistenee of unemployment. All undertakings are on a grandiose scale —one gains the impression that, with precocious ambition, the new Russia is trying Io run ere she is vet able to walk. Ideals, theories, and objectives appear admirably satisfactory: they are put into practice with whole-hearted enlliusiastu anti varying success. So far there seems to have been infinite striving without commensurate reward. The reader is more than once warned against pronouncing a premature sentence on (lie results of the new regime. The fruition of Soviet hopes is for future perusal. There, is in the book much comniemhition of wlini Inis airrndy been attained. and a notieeable desire to dw.’il with miicii confidence on the immunity of llir- fnlnre. In a word, actual achievement has quite definitely not outpai-e.l ambition. Hue feels, however, that had the lours been longer Ihe impressions might have been stronger.

FICTION IN BRIEF "Kept .Man" by >l■<s:il i 11 <1 Wade < London : Chapman and Halil. A liltie sordid. but attractively written ami dramatically satisfying. "Rahib and Rachel.” by Geo. C. Foster (London: Chapman and Hall). A well-constructed ami well-written book concerned primarily with society’s changing attitude to sex. "Bluo Water” by C. Hedley Barker (London: Cassell). A quick-actioned first novel, full of the excitement and perils of (ho sen. "The Wicked Captain” by Alice Massie (London: Cassell). Love in a collage ami the story of a romantic transformation. “Holiday” by May Edgiuloii (London: Collins). A. symp.itlietj. • laic of a girl ami her first, experience of luxury.

A CAREER TO CHOOSE Tackling a Vexed Problem in a Fascinating Way "What Shall I Be?" Bart 1. by Annabel Williams Ellis. (London: Heinemann i. Mrs. Ellis tackles the vexed qitest-io'i of choosing a career iu an unusual ami fasciimt ing' way. The person who picks up this book to glance through as "another of those vocational books" is likely to find himself instead reading every word of the vivid amt varied descriptions given of the nelutll working days of many types of professional and semi-professional men and women. in tunny books of this kind there :s laid on the prepnration of a career, tlillieullics of study, timincial obstacles and so on. but although the author touches on these questions iu a brief but exceedingly practical manner. Hie bulk of the book is given to the presentation of the actual working lives of the linished artiele. Out of more than a thousaml possible ways of earning a living, the author lias chosen, for illustration, those for which the future demand is likely to be more rather than less, and in which the increasing necessity for I lie use of science and scientific methods is ably demonstrated. A striking feature is the consideration given Io the import-anec of differences in personal character—the big reason why work that seems inoiiotunous or troublesome to one person is

full of interest and excitement to aiiotber. Practical psychological tesls give definite help in determining excellence. ability and limitations. Lists of books and reliable sources of information are supplied. "What Shall 1 Be'.'” is an encouraging and inspiring book for the young people for whom it is especially written. It is an absorbing and delightful one for the general reader. MISCELLANY Mr. Lawrence Biuyon, who will shortly relive from bis post as Keeper ot Prints and Drawings in (tie British Museum, lias accepted ibe Charles Eliot Norton Professorship of Poetry at Harvard Utiiversiiy for the year 1933-31. Mr. Biuyon will be the seventh holder of (he .■ippoiniment. which is made yearly. Mr. T. S. Eliot is the present holder. Mr. E. M. Forster is engaged on a memoir of G. Lowes Dickinson. the writer on philosophy and politics, who died last year. Miss Dickinson has pul tier brother's letters at Mr. Forster's disposal. Dr. Lion Feuchtwanger, the distinguished Jevvisli-Germnn writer, has sent the following message to Martin Seeker. Ltd., his English publishers: “Storm troops broke into my Berlin house. Servant threatened with revolver. Motorcar stolen, desks broken open, documents and manuscripts of the second volume ot •Josephus' torn up.” We have reached a point where we can look back and see that the Socialist movement in Western Europe has failed. —TV. J. Middleton Murry. “All Quiet oil the Western Front” has been removed from the municipal library at Dessau, Germany, by order of the burgomaster. Trotsky’s books have also been banned, and all pacifist and Communist books arc to be replaced by “National" books. ♦ « • A set of the original monthly parts of “Pickwick Papers" lias been sold in London for £2lO. A "Vanity Fair" set went for £125. a copy of George ,(Essing’s "Workers in the Dawn” for £l3O. and T. E. Lawrence's “Seven Pillars of M tsdom” for £lO2.