PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 24

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

books of the week

The Chief Librarian of the Wellington Public Libraries has chosen "Eggs and Baker," by John Masefield, as ths book of the week, and has furnished the following review:

Since Mr. Masefield first came into prominence about thirty years ago as a writer of lyrics and ballads, he has shown a versatility that is nothing short of astonishing, and which has earned him a position of respect in the minds of everyone interested in English literature. His poetic plays are agreed to be those of a master playwright, while his poetry has earned for him the office of Poet Laureate. As a novelist he has earned an unusual reputation, and his latest book, "Eggs and Baker," a tale of the English countryside, is written with that brilliancy of narrative and characterisation which the public has come to expect from him. "Eggs and Baker" is a particularly unassuming title for what is probably Mr. Masefield's fictional masterpiece, but behind it lies an inspired story, the tale of a struggling baker's fight for justice.

The Magpie, a character so called by reason of his hair, which was streaked in a magpie fashion, was about thirty years of age and was the progeny ol a drunken father and a half-witted mother, two people who had at oae time lived in the evil slum district of the town of Condicote. The tragedy oi the Magpie's life was that his sole heritage was the lamentable mental condition of his mother.

On the last Saturday afternoon in September in the year 187— a gang of poachers induced him to accompany them into Arthur's Camp on a poaching expedition. Later, when confronted with the keeper, John Okie, "Fight" Rapp, vicious little man well known in Condicote for his lawlessness, committed murder by shooting Okie. Rapp and the Magpie were the only two members of the gang to be positively recognised, and were in due course charged with murder. To Robert Mansell, the Baker, an honest, upright man, the charge against the Magpie as an accessory seemed nothing short of scandalous, and he immediately launched a campaign on his behalf. His first act was to write pamphlet setting out the descent and life of the Magpie and appealing for funds to provide defence. The response was poor, and he decided to carry on the defence at his own cost. „ Finally came the trial. The case for i the Crown was stated and was answered by the defence. The jury agreed upon their verdict. The Judge, a fine old figure, and the embodiment of wisdom, pronounced sentence upon the prisoners. The Baker, overwrought by two days' intense strain and constant attention to the evidence made a protest which only resulted in his being attached for a "contempt" which he expiated by a sojourn in gaol. The passage of events is swift, and the lesser characters play no small

part in the story. Tryphena Mansell is the dutiful wife of the Baker, a sincere woman, eager to help him in every way; and her stoical acceptance of Fate when the Baker is gaoled wins particular admiration. In this time of trial she has the moral support of her son Bob, a sturdy lad of exceptional character, and it is uily by his wholehearted aid that she is able to exist and later nurse the Baker to health after he has been stricken with pneumonia. It may be added that the Baker was a radical, though not violently so, for radicalism to him did not mean a shattering reversal of the existing social order, but rather the working for an ultimate improvement in the living conditions of the poor and a general easing of their burden. His cause, however, was not helped by his choice ] of a speaker for his first meeting m < Condicote. The speaker was Adolf Engels, depicted as an alien, whose ] chief aim was to set mischief afoot. He did not make a very good impression, but his superficial approach was , given strength by the strong stand , which the Baker himself took in attempting to overcome the prejudices of the deeply-conservative townspeople. The sub-title, "The Days of Trial, suggests a tale of severe affliction, but an element of humour and a happy ending give the book the balance of real life, from which Mr. Masefield is too great an artist to depart. RECENT LIBRARY ADDITIONS. Other titles selected from recent accession lists are as follows:—General: "Scalpel and Sword," by Sir J. S. Elliott; "Gone Sunwards," by C. E. M. Roberts; "Health via Food," by W. H. Hay. Fiction: "Heydays and Maydays," by Anne Hepple: "Lords and Masters," by A. G. Macdonell; Mary Lavelle," by K. O'Brien. "ART IN NEW ZEALAND" The- recent number of "Art in New Zealand" features the Australian Loan Collection, which has for some months been the magnet at the National Art Gallery. Its main features are ably summarised by Mr. Roland Hipkins, and the four colour plates in the issue are reproductions from this fine colt lection. Mr. G. Osborne writes illui minatingly on two artists who have j helped to mould the cultural life of New Zealand —Fetrus Van Der Velden, the painter, and Herbert Bloy, the musician. The winning play in the competition has proved to be "Family Furore," by Una Craig. This one-act ' play is printed in full and makes ex- • cellent reading. The plot is ingenious - and revolves round the authorship of i a book which was written with an i ulterior purpose, and with good effect, too. "The Runners" by Isobel Andrews, i two poems ("March England," by j Robin Hyde, and "The Pines," by J. » R. Hervey), and an article in praise i, of wood engraving, are to be found s amongst the literary matter, while i- various notes and black and white e reproductions complete what is in every respect an excellent quarterly.