BOOK NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 3, 3 July 1943, Page 7

BOOK NOTES

Germany From Within.—Two books recently published by Gollancz deal authoritatively and informatively with Germany's internal condition. Although Paul Hagen in his "Will Germany Crack?" does not give an absolutely definite answer one way ,or other, he does hold out the hope that before very long the elements of disruption in the country will have a chance to make themselves felt. He paints , a graphic and well-documented picture of a Germany undernourished and overworked, of a people terrorised by the- Gestapo and the British bombings (the latter much accentuated since the book was written over a year ago), of a people staggered by the appalling losses sustained in Russia, and of. a people who have practically given up all' hope of ultimate victory. The anti-Nazi element in Germany is strong but inarticulate and impotent, one gathers, but the time is not far off when it may be able to come to make itself felt in some decisive manner.

"German Home Front," by Dr. W. W. Schutz, a well-known writer on political science, a lecturer and correspondent of leading neutral newspapers, develops the same theme from a somewhat different point of view. With a mass of evidence from actual German documents he shows very conclusively that all is not, well in the high places in Germany and that opposition to the Nazf regime is developing wider and wider ramifications. The efforts to defeat this opposition are very thorough at present, but how long they will be successful time alone will tell. These two books between them give a very complete.picture of Germany seen from within and, although encouraging as to Germany's ultimate defeat and collapse, are a valuable antidote to wishful thinking. Undaunted China.—After more than five years of war China carries on with . her spirit undaunted. Never have the people of China been so united as they are now, in the face* of the common enemy, under the leadership of General Chiang Kai-shek, the soldier-statesman who is regarded by the whole nation as the embodiment of the spirit of resistance. The Chinese, with their clear perception of right and wrong, have a firm conviction that, cause of righteousness will ultimately triumph, and all the time that the war has been in progress the country has been looking to the future and proceeding with its programme of reconstruction. "China After Five Years ;of War," published by Gollancz for the London office of the Chinese' Ministry of Information, is an epitome of China's remarkable achievements during the last five years, providing up-to-date information not readily accessible from other sources. This book should arouse, a 1 greater interest than ever in . China's achievements, problems, and aspirations. "Ride On, Stranger," is a new novel •by Kylie Tehnant, whose "Foveaux" was such a decided success, and "Mr. Fortune Finds a Pig" is H. C. Bailey's latest addition iii the way of a fulllength detective stoiy to the "Mr. Fortune" series, both coming from the house of Gollancz. ..