LITERARY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 26

LITERARY NOTES

•- — « BOOKS AND AUTHORS

As already announced, the Nobel Prize for Literature has been.awarded to Mr. Eugene O'Neill. To mark the occasion, a new edition of his complete works is being issued by Jonathan Cape in 11 uniform volumes.

Methuens are about to publish a selection from American humorous writings, edited by Mr. Stephen Leacock. American humour often puzzles the English reader; this book should enlighten him. Mr. Leaeock's "history of, laughter" spans the period from Benjamin Franklin to Ijting Lardner.

A. E. Housman's introductory lecture on "The Pursuit of Knowledge," delivered in University College, London, in 1392, has been twice privately printed. The book has now made its first appearance in a more generally available edrHon published by the Cambridge University .Press.

,An authoritative addition to the literature of the Dreyfus case is "Dreyfus: His Life and Letters." The first part, written by Dreyfus's son, retells, the (history of the case up to the second condemnation in 1891, and includes a selection of letters between Dreyfus and . his wife. The second part, written by Dreyfus himself, continues the story to the'final acquittal in 1906.

The recent swift changes in the occupancy of the British Throne have caused losses to British publishing houses, and one which, in the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has suffered a "serious financial loss" is the publishing department of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. At every change there had necessarily to be made a change in the Prayer Book.

The novel by Joseph Peyre which won the Prix Goncourt for 1935 will be published shortly by Geoffrey Blus under the title of "A Matador Dies." The scene is Spain, and the leading character a bullfighter who has passed his prime. The same publisher announces, that Frau Vicki Baum's new novel will be set in the island of Bali, which has lately received much attention in books and films.

Herr Hans Possendorf, who has just published a new novel called 'The Seventy-seventh Day," is the Edgar Wallace of Germany. He prides himself on giving each of his books an entirely distinctive setting, based on personal experience and accurate as regards local colour. He has travelled thousands of miles all over the world in search of material. As soon as one book is finished he sets off on his wanderings again.

Despite the fact that at the birthday party given.to him by the P.E.N. Club, when he attained his three score years and ten, Mr. H. G. Weils sadly lamented the swift passage of the years, his energy seems in no way impaired. His "The Croquet Player," certainly a small book, is scarcely out, when a new and longer story is announced. It is to be published by Chatlo And Windus. But so far only the title "Star Begotten" is known about it.

In a book entitled "None Other Gods," Dr. Visser't Hooft, general secretary of the World's Student Christian Federation, diagnoses the state of Christendom today as he has studied it in travels throughout the world, and offers a constructive statement about the churches of the future. His book has just been published by the Student Christian Movement Press, whose •publications, this' month will include a new work by Dr. D. S. Cairns, entitled "The Riddle of-the World."