BOOK REVIEWS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 126, 23 February 1944, Page 6

BOOK REVIEWS

A New Study Of The French Revolution “The French Revolution,” by J. M. Thompson (Oxford: Blackwell). Since Thomas Carlyle wrote his celebrated history of the French Revolution much uew evidence has been gathered and many new works on various aspects ot the revolution have appeared. A great change has taken ..place, too, in the attitude of a true historian to his work and the.manner in which he accomplishes it. Carlyle, writing more than 100 years ago, was too close to the revolution to be. impartial about it, and it is doubtful it it was the fashion for historians to be doubtful. The passion for endless research and sifting of information was not so highly developed and the historian was pleased to relate the' facts as he saw them, lending them the colour of bis own personal reaction. History is now a scientific search for truth, and readers will readily agree that Mr Ihompsou s excellent exposition of the 1‘ reach Revolution is history in its best modern manner. This means that his work bears the ’stamp of brilliant scholarsnip, together with the evidence of tireless study of all the information aim literature that he could gather on his subject. He has set forth his findings with a ring ot authority which must cause his book to become in future the standard text tor advanced students of the French Revolution Mr. Thompson gives a chapter to each phase of the revolution, beginning with a brief historl of the States General and concluding with the Thermidor. Ihe book contains everything a student can wish to know. It explains the condition of each step towards and of the revolution. It gives a short character sketch of all the famous men whose names are history of the period and, without losing any sense of impartiality, it gives the reader a profound sympathy for the revolution while deploring but understanding the violent upheavals and terrors which rent the country before the revolt had accomplished its aim (if that were indeed done). Considering the closeness of the study Mr. Thompson has made, his book is amaizngly easy and interesting to read. “Poems for a War,” by Anton _ Vogt (Wellington: Progressive Publishing Society). Mr. Vogt’s book is well-named. In his poems he shows a sensitiveness to present conditions which is often queerly lacking in the work of other New Zealand writers. Hi is a clear and astute thinker, impatient of glamorous shams, but liable to sacrifice the poetic qualities of his verse by undue recklessness in the manner of its expression. Though his poems are sometimes affected by a lack of consistency in the aesthetic aim, they are still well worth reading. Some .of them are very good, the poet’s moving tribute to Norway, for instance. Best of all is the “Apology” which prefaces the volume. Here simply worded, beautifully cadenced verses achieve poetry that is pure and plain. “Mother Finds a Body,” by Gypsy Rose Lee (London: Bodley Head). Those who have read “The Strip-Tease Murders’ will be prepared for the extravagances of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous American burlesque artist. Most staid New Zealanders will set her ’down as a perfectly outrageous young woman —and begin to read her latest mystery story with gusto. Gypsy and Biff have bought a caravan in which to spend their honeymoon. but they are too kind-hearted to leave mother, and they finally collect- a load of show girls and men, so that the honeymoon is anything but a deux. Then mother finds a body in a bathtub and the fun begins,' mother being a lovely blonde with disastrous ideas about- getting nd of the corpse. Gypsy Rose Lee has command of a vernacular which makes the grimmest and dullest situations seem hilarious. , _ , “Secret Service.” by Norman Dale (London: Bodley HeadD. Mr, Dale has written a thoroughly competent adventure story for children. It concerns the capture of a German prisoner of this war and thus is quite up to date. Young readers are sure to be enthralled with these exciting adventures of two small London boys and a pampered'girl.