BOOK REVIEWS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 6

BOOK REVIEWS

Lady Newall’s Gift Book

In the quality of its content and the care bestowed in printing and general presentation, Lady Newall’s Gift Book is a very fine production. On these merits alone, apart from the fact that the entire profits from the sales of the book are to be used for the benefit of our service men and women through the All Purposes Fund of the National Patriotic Board, the book should be assured of a popular welcome throughout the Dominion. The general atmosphere of the contents is characteristically New Zealand. TJie names of tbe writers and artists who have responded to the invitation of the Editorial Board for contributions are well-known in this country as native to its cultural climate who have developed their art in tuue with their natural environment. In a foreword, her Excellency acknowledges “the great generosity and kindness, as well genuine talent of the many New Zealanders who have been brought together to prepare its pages.” The contributors undoubtedly have given of their best, and the result is worthy of pride and congratulation. Prose, verse, music and illustrations make up the content supplied by a company of talent too large to mention individually. Acknowledgment, however, is due to the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross, which sponsored the idea, and to the Editorial Committee —Lieut.-Colonel C. A. L. Treadwell, president P.E.N. (New Zealand Centre), Sir James Elliott, Dr. G. H. Scholefield, Messrs. Alan Mulgan, P. A. Lawlor, H. H. Tombs, and A. W. Reed. “Stories of Great Music,” by John Horton (Edinburgh: Nelson). Air. Horton takes eight famous musical works, ranging in character from a single song to an opera, and tells the story of their composition, explaining how and why they came into being. He records the circumstances of the writing and first performance of Handel’s “Fireworks Music,” gives the story behind the naming of Tartini’s “Devil’s Trili” sonata and Hadyn’s “Farewell” symphony, and tells of the creation of Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony, Wagner’s opera “The Flying Dutchman,” Mendelsohn’s “Hebrides” overture, Berlioz’s “Rakoczy” march, and Schubert's song “The Erlking.” It is an entertaining volume, embellished with excerpts from musical scores, and illustrations of instruments and people and sceens concerned in the stories.

“A Book of Coinfort," by Eric Parker (Loudon: Seeley Service). Mr. Parker has gathered together in this small volume poems and passages in prose designed to offer consolation to the bereaved. They are the work of many authors, ancient and modern, and in all of them deep sympathy and understanding are revealed. It is Mr. Parker's hope that the book may be something more than one of comfort. ‘‘For,” ho says, “besides consolation of what we have suffered, we need all of us the help that we may have from hope; and hope may bd of things parent, of his world, or of things belonging to the world which is to come.” "Keep the Home Guard Turning,” by Compton Mackenzie (London: Chatto and Windus). Compton Mackenzie masters comic-writing with a delicate irony which in this book must make even the official mind laugh at itself. The scene is laid in certain Hebridean Islands whose locality cannot be revealed for fear of giving away information to the enemy. The doings of the Home Guard and their commander. Captain Paul Waggett, a pair of left-hand boots, certain military operations, and quaint official correspondence give to the book the one military objective of uproarious laughter. Compton Mackenzie’s feeling for the ridiculous is made realistic by the fact that one knows that the things he relates are true. One can but hope that every military official makes a point of reading the book. He 'will not, of course, find himself .there, but the other fellow will be there. > '