LITERARY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 21

LITERARY NOTES

In Mr. Hugh Walpole's opinion, J. B. Priestley's "The Good Companions" lias been "beyond all question" the great fiction success of 1929 outside the war books.

Students of the history of British typography will be interested to learn that-the British Museum has acquired the records of tho Chiswick Press, whose work so greatly influenced book printing in the nineteenth century.

How many are aware that John Milton wrote "A Brief History of Moscovia"? It has just been republished by tho Blackmore Press.

Sir Alan Cobham's "20,000 Miles in a Flying Boat" will be issued by Harrap early in 1930.

"The Wind on the Heath," a gipsy anthology edited by Mr. John Sampson, will shortly appear with Chatto.

Sir Lionel Cust left some reminiscences of "King Edward VII. and his Court," and they are to bo published by John Murray. Sir Lionel c/une much in touch with King Edward and was frequently consulted by him. After Queen Victoria's death till the Koyal residences had to be brought up to date, and the King permitted'no dallying about this immense work. Constantly he summoned Sir Lionel Cust to give him advice, both as an artistic expert and as a friend.

Hodder and Stoughton are publishing "The Ship of Truth," by Miss Lotlice'Cooper. It is a religious novel, in accordance with the conditions attaching to the prize of £1000. Over four hundred manuscripts were sent in as a response to this handsome invitation, and they came from all parts of the British Empire. Miss Cooper, the winner, belongs to a Yorkshire family, and the principal character in her novel is a North Country Anglican clergyman.

A correspondent sent to "John 0' London's Weekly" an amusing remark made to the late Richard ds Morgan by a friend to whom he showed it:—

" Joseph Vance" kissed "Alice-for- ' Short," As the two in the library stood; "It never can happen again," he . said—

She said it was "Somehow good." The verse mentions the four first published of De.Morgan's books, when the verse was sent to him a fifth book, "An Affair of "Dishonour." had just been issued. So when "William De Morgan handed the quotation to a. friend to read, the latter scanned iI. .over, and said. "And that's how 'An Affair of Dishonour' started, I suppose."