LITERARY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 129, 2 June 1928, Page 21

LITERARY NOTES

Hoddcr and Stoughton have in hand a now novel by Mr. John Buchan, called "The Eunagates' Club." I

"Myths and Legends of tho Polynesians," by Mr. Johannes C. Andersen, is just out from G. Harrap and Co.. London. Coloured plates by B. Wallwork, A.E.C.A., and half-tone and line illustrations, with maps, supplement the text.

Queen Marie, tho Anglo-Bussian widow of King 'Ferdinand of Rumania, has announced publicly that slio is now engaged in writing the story of her .life. As tho Queen has met practically all the loading personalities of Europe, her book should bo of considerable interest.

The prize offered by a French literary committee for the best English novel by a, woman writer has been awarded to Mrs. Virginia Woolf for tho story called "To tho Lighthouse." Mrs. Woolf is a daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen. Tho two other novels submitted to the French committee for their decision wero "Tho Lovely Ship," by Miss Storm Jameson, and "Good-bye, Stranger," by Miss Stella Benson.

"Black Majesty," by John W. Vandorcook, has been chosen by the Literary Guild in America as one of the twelve best books of the year.. It, is the biography of Henry Christorjhe, born a negro slave and died an emperor. He freed Haiti, defied Napoleon Bonaparte, amassed a fortune, and ruled his kingdom with an iron hand. Mr. Vandercook has written the first complete biography of this black emperor.

Mr. Mackenzie King's book "The Message of the Carillon" (Maemillan) is a selection from the speeches of the Canadian Premier as expressing the voice of the Dominion. Its title was suggested by the fact that a carillon of fifty-three, bells first pealed forth from tho main tower of tho Parliament Buildings at Ottawa in celebration of tho diamond jubilee of the Confederation.

Ever since James Anthony Froudc's famous book controversy has raged around the figures of Thomas Carlylo and Jane "Welsh Carlyle. 'As a, result, Jane lias never been studied impersonally, but ras Thomas's wife, playing witli him a domestic drama. Miss Elizabeth Drew tries to make an unprejudiced study of "Jane Welsh and Jauo Carlyle" in a book just published by Jonathan Cape. She .presents her as a girl, as the' fascinating young hostess of. No. 5, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, and as the embittered middle-aged woman.' Eventually she endeavours, what has been most difficult of all, to assess her us the wife of Carlyle. Under the will of Mr. John Williamson, of Edinburgh, the Dumfriesshire farm of Ellisland has been bequeathed to the British nation. Eobort ; Burns lived at the farm for two years, and some of his most famous poems, including "Tain o' Shanter," wore written there. Burns entered into occu-p.-ition of the farm at Ellisland, on the Nith, in 17S8. It was while he was living there that he married. He lost what little money he had, and wrote among other poems "Auld Lnng Syne," and "Tarn o' Shanter." In 1789 he obtained an appointment as excise officer of the district at a salary of £50 a year.