BOOK NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1942, Page 2

BOOK NOTES

ALL ABOUT DIAMONDS

The romance associated with the diamond industry is partially told by A. Monnickendam in "Secrets of the Diamond," published by Frederick Muller, Ltd. But partially only, for often what is told is just sufficient to whet the appetite for more. The diamond, the most famous even if not the rarest and most valuable of all precious stones, lends itself to fuller treatment than is here accorded it. But as far as it goes, "Secrets of the Diamond" makes fascinating and interesting reading, the best part of the book undoubtedly being that which details the schemings which went on between rivals when South Africa came into the limelight as a rich diamondproducing area. Fortunes were made and lost, and such familiar names as those of Cecil Rhodes, the Barnato brothers, and the Joels figure prominently in this page of South Africa's history- The history of some famous stones hovv diamonds are cut and polished, and frauds connected with the diamond trade are among the several subjects touched upon in later chap-, ters. ABOUT AUSTRALIA. Shortly before the outbreak of the present war Dr. Halliday Sutherland went to Australia on a lecture tour. One result of that tour is a very acceptable book, "Southward Journey," published by Geoffrey Bles, and, as might be expected from the author of "Arches of the Years," the narrative is flavoured with humour and penetrating observation. Dr. Sutherland saw a great deal of Australia and Australian life, and what he has to say about that vast country and the people in it makes informative as well as entertaining reading, giving more real information about Australia than most books of the same kind.

Of more interest to Australian readers than to New Zealanders are "A Homestead History" and "Know Your Own Trees." The former, published by the Melbourne University Press, is the history of a pastoral partnership which began in 1844 in the Upper Loddon region in Australia, and the latter, from the same publishers, is a short introduction to the study of Australia's eucalypts.

"Decision and Action," by Lionel Curtis, published by Angus and Robertson, propounds a scheme of federal union which is designed to make sure that, with the termination of the present war, peace will reign in future.