BOOKS AND BOOKMEN A LITERARY CORNER.

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 24

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN A LITERARY CORNER.

VERSES WiHGS Over the fields a butterfly flew, Dew on her wings, fluttering, gay; Born of the sunshine, she never knew Butterflies rarely live more than a day. Over the fields a young airman flew, Brave in his youth, dauntless and: gay; Unlike the butterfly. Ah! well he knew Airmen live sometimes for only a day. "Wings of the morning, Oh! glittering wings. Into the blue you have stolon away; High o’er the fields a lonely lark sings, Hail and farewell, ’tis the end of the day. • —Vernon Hayne, in the ‘ Empire Review.’ THE SOHC QF THE LARK • In the early dawning Of a glad young day, Where the wild flowers glisten By the stony way, Hushed in luscious stillness, Everyone aslpep— Except a little peasant, With her cool bare feet. All her instincts told her Light outshines the dark, So she stopped to" listen; Then she heard the lark! —Susan P. Campbell, in ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’ KIND JOHN TAYLOR : THE PUBLISHER WHO CHAMPIONED KEATS. • The Good Samaritan has also been a publisher. Yes, even in the days when the ‘ Quarterly ’ was blackguarding Keats. This is clear from Mr Edmund Blunden’s charming chronicle of John Taylor. _ ‘ Keats’s Publisher,’ a very good friend of that poet, also friend and publisher of John Clare, and the owner and editor of the ‘ London Magazine ’ during the brilliant four years when Elia, De Quincey, Hazlitt, Landor, and finally Carlyle made, its reputation (writes Osbert Burdett. in ‘ John o’ London’s' : Weekly). Biography, literary history, and the lesser men who missed renown but were also in Taylor’s circle, will be permanently indebted to Mr Blunden ' for his researches and the skill with which this memoir has been written. John Taylor (1781-1864), the son of a provincial bookseller, came to London in his late ’teens. For a couple of years he lived on next to nothing a week. A better job with another publisher turned up, and eventually he joined his friend and faithful afterlieutenant, James Hessey. They then started their own firm. Most famous now as the second publisher of Keats, Taylor is revealed as the generous.man who advanced £l5O for |he poet’s journey to Italy. He also tackled Blackwood in person, telling him that his attacks had been made “ in the spirit of the devil,’' and was a good councellor to his authors besides being an honest publisher and a generous and steadfast friend. It remains our regret that Taylor’s project to write a ‘ Life of Keats ’ very soon after the .poet’s death was' defeated by .the rivalries, scruples, and misunderstandings that so often beset memoirs of the nearly famous on the morrow of their passing. Taylor was equally valuable to the peasant-poet, John Clare, not only in the business of his tangled engagements with different publishers, but also with the editing of his verses, for, as Mr Blunden aptly puts it, Clare was a “ wonderful master of minutiae hut not of idea.” Taylor also had to deal with Clare’s well-meaning but assertive patrons, Lord Radstock and Mrs Emmerson, with whom he combined tact anti firmness in a model degree. The publishers entertained their authors at periodical dinners, and the friendly Hessey gave Clare a violin and wrote him at least one most touching letter. The vicissitudes of a publisher who would also conduct a magazine are amusingly illustrated in this volume, which editors and publishers, established or intending, can read with profit. The partners knew their own minds, and deliberately declined apparently to publish the works of Byron. A chapter on ‘ That Problem, the Author,’ .is rich in anecdote of De Quincey, Coleridge, Lahdor, the quarrelsome man who topped _ invention even of epitaphs by proclaiming that he “ strove with none.” We hear of Clare again, and of the opium-eater’s continual financial straits. The partners later separated, Taylor to become bookseller to the new London University, and Hessey to fall into bankruptcy, and then become a schoolmaster. The fine record was clouded by the mysterious accounts that Clare received on the winding up of the firm. Though these last are still mysterious, the honesty of the men themselves seenis impossible to doubt. It is a fine record, finely told from original letters throughout. Signor Luigi Pirandello, who died recently, looked, with his sunburnt face and neat white beard, more like a retired sea captain than a distinguished playwright. For 30 years he was an obscure teacher in a girls’ school in Rome. Then in 1921 his ‘ Six Characters in Search of an Author ’ gave Jjim fame, and in 1934 ho was awarded the Nobel_ Prize for literature. He used to write for five hours and smoko 120 cigarettes every day. He travelled the world, attending his first nights, working in trains, in hotels, on ships—any-

HEW BOOKS * ENGLAND CALLING' “ The way to see England is by car. There should be no set itinerary: o.ne should wander as the spirit moves.” These are the opening sentences in ‘ England Calling,’ written by an Australian after a visit to the Motherland. The author is William Plowman. He wrote: ‘‘Towns and cities are much alike, so we decided to keep away from them as much as possible and find delight in quaint villages, with simple people.” The author describes with an appreciative pen the features of the English countryside—castles, stately homes, quaint villages, and oqualfy quaint customs, as well as history and archteology. The theme adopted by the author has attracted the attention of numerous writers fro,m outside the shores of Britain. Many of them are stodgy, of .the guide book type. Mr Plowman’s book is in a different category. Not only does he fasten on points of particular interest, but he has the gift of passing on that interest to the reader in a series of little word pictures. The magic of the English countryside has had the same effect on the author of this hook as on innumerable visitors from the oversea dominions and the United States. ‘ England Calling.’ which is most attractively illustrated, is published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. •DEATH Oil DARTMOOR ’ John Rowland undoubtedly has a facility for writing “ thrillers ” and of maintaining the suspense till the very last page. In ‘ Death on Dartmoor he again introduces his readers to Inspector Shelley, who on this occasion has a very knotty problem to solve. The body of a man, who, as was afterwards discovered, had been killed by being choked by a rope trailed from an aeroplane, was found doubled up in a dress basket behind the scene at a theatre. Thus commenced a most mysterious murder case, with Dartmoor, sombre, grim, and menacing, as the background. After a series of exciting adventures, during ivhich another murder occurs, Inspector Shelley solves the mystery,: the trail leading him all ; over the West of England and back to London. The murderer, who, is unmasked after attempting to fatally gas a party of police, had been endeavouring “to lay the blame pf the crime on a distant cousin and inherit a large sum of monev himself. The publishers are Messrs Herbert Jenkins Limited, London. * WITHIN THE WEB’ Julia Mobray has produced a highly exciting and fantastic story in ‘ Within the Web,’ published by Messrs Andrew Melrose Ltd., London, a copy of which has been forwarded to ns by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Dunedin. However, there is a fascination about it, and tho good dialogue and enthralling situations will maintain the reader’s interest till the last page. The story concerns the machinations of a secret gang that preys upon society by theft, blackmail, imposture, and murder. “The Brotherhood of the Hawks ” is the name of this gang, the chief of which has educated a young girl so that she might take her place in society and marry a young man who is victim of the blackmailers because of his father’s sin. Learning of the plot of which she is made the central, figure, the young lady passes through a terrible period of trial, for she has come to love her husband passionately. Fortunately the story ends, as it should, with the gang being wiped out and our hero and heroine being left to live, a life of happiness and contentment. •A FLYING DETECTIVE’ In ‘ Demon of the Air ’ the story is told of the adventures of a Scotland Yard, detective, wXo is also an air pilot and who combines the two with successful results. It is a brilliant tale full of thrills, suspense,, and adventure, and holds special interest as an example of the use—or misuse—to which aircraft may he put by law-breakers. The main theme is the finding tho perpetrator of a series of mysterious burglaries which have taken place in country houses in various parts of England. Officials at the “ Yard ” are puzzled for a considerable time until the pilotdetective, under the direction of the author’s already-known Superintendent Margetson, carries out his investigations. A most unusual method of entering the houses is exposed, and the story is brought to a climax in keeping with tho earlier pages. It is a wellwritten book, and the technical details have been carefully studied. There is also a dash of humour in the descriptions of a country family, which is involved in the wild schemes of the mysterious thief. It is published by tho Eldon Press Ltd. THRILLING THRILLER When G. Davison writes a thriller tho reader may bo sure that he will get his money’s worth. _ There are no half measures about this author w'hen it comes to out and out fiction. His ingenuity is immense, and in his latest novel, ‘ The Man With Half a Face,’ he does not, let np for a moment. There are secret rays, under-sea sanctuaries, submarines, aeroplanes, strange poisons, and all tho accessories of a first-class thriller. Cruel and ruthless, the complete scoundrel, the man with half a face, directs his subordinates from Ins stronghold under the sea along the paths of crime and destruction until finally outwitted by two gentlemen who are used to dealing with all sorts of crime and criminals. Our copy is from the publishers, Messrs Herbert Jenkins Ltd, (London),;

A BRILLIANT NOVEL ‘ Europa ’ is the first novel from the pen of Robert Briffault, and it is a brilliant effort, thoroughly deserving the plaudits with which English reviewers have greeted it. Robert Briffault has gained an international reputation as a philosopher and interpreter of history, through such works as ‘ The Mothers,’ ‘ Rational Evolution,’ ‘ Psyche’s Lamp,’ ‘ Breakdown,’ and ‘ The Making of Humanity.’ Most of his early childhood was spent on the Continent, his father being in the French diplomatic service, and his acquaintance; with Italy especially is revealed in the Roman scenes in his novel. His parents were closely associated with the titled Englishmen, Russians, and other Continental aristocrats who spent much of their time in Italy, and a great deal of tho earlier parts of ‘ Europa ’ is drawn from the author’s experiences and observations as a youth and young man. ‘ Europa ’ is a long novel, and one which will appeal to the thoughful reader. It presents a mighty panorama of England and the Continent over the three decades that preceded the World War, and is a novel of society, high and low, sovereigns, aristocrats, business men and speculators, diplomats, women flaunting their charms—and beneath them, in the shadows, the forces rising to lead tho world to the brink of destruction. Mr Briffault is a masterly delineator of the figures he writes about. Against the background of pre-war life in the European capitals, he sets the story of Julian Bern, well-born, seeking always the truth and sickened by the spectacle of a heedless world rushing needlessly towards the abyss. It is through his eyes and those of tho beautiful Zeua, Princess Hruzof, that the reader views scenes of extravagance, dissipation, vice, and rascality almost unbelievable. One gets glimpses of Mussolini when he was a Socialist newspaper editor and Fascism was but a dream; of Rasputin, at the height of his power; of tho Kaiser reviewing his crack regiments, and of many other notable personalities. This is more than a remarkable story or sequence of events. It presents an important part of history in vivid form, and should rank as one of the outstanding efforts of 1936. Our copy comes from Robert Hale and Co., the publishers. HEALTHY LIVING * Hints on Healthy Living,’ by Dr Ulric Williams, of Wanganui, has icached its third edition. The author deals with the cause of disease and begins wth a chapter of what disease is and how it comes about, and states that the requirements of health are right thinking, right feeding, and right habits and actions. He stresses the need for mental health as well as bodily fitness, and gives much good advice bn healthy living and right habits. The spiritual aspects of healing and the part played by fasting in disease are dealt with. Then the author discusses diet, and sets out rules of eating, suggestions for menus to make the right combination of foods for the daily meals, and suggestions for working men’s lunches, and picnics. In addition, there is an enlarged list of recipes. Close on 100 pages are devoted to health recipes of all kinds, prefaced with hints on preparation and cooking. The publishers of this book are the Wanganui ‘ Chronicle ’ Company, CRICKET AND MYSTERY Cricket and mystery may not go in double harness, but with cricket in the air, Denzil Batchelor, an Australian writer, lias seized the opportunity to give those cricket lovers who also like “ thrillers ” something unusual to whet their appetites. Mr Batchelor is known as an authority on cricket, and in ‘ The Test Match Murder,’ he proves that he possesses those qualities which make for the successful writer of “ thrillers.” He combines cricket and murder with telling effect. The hook opens sensationally with the murder of a famous English batsman on tho Sydney Cricket Ground, ending on the Sydney harbour bridge. The thrill of the dramatic opening is well sustained throughout, reaching an arresting climax. Our copy comes from tho publishers, Messrs Angus and Robertson, Ltd. UPTON SINCLAIR Energetic on the tennis court, and with a youthful verve and dash that belie bis 58 years, Mr Upton Sinclair can, as bis readers know, be energetic in his language also. He is famous for speaking his mind. During a visit to London he was filled with “ horror and loathing ” at Westminster Abbey, and his description of the Londoner bankholidaying on Hampstead Heath can scarcely—we hope—be defined as flattering. He found the people “ shambling like apes, drooping like baboons, guffawing with loud noises, and speaking a jabber hardly to he understood.” One would imagine, placing Ibis description alongside the title of his bestknown book—which book someone once said gave tho United Slates a stomach ache—that the above paragraph was from one of the finer descriptive passages of ‘ The Jungle,’ But Mr Sinclair does not hesitate to be uncomplimentary to himself also. “The dreaded Socialist muckraker ” is one name applied to him, and, like Gilbert’s Englishman, “ ho himself has said it.” London ‘ Punch,’ of course, was never as good as it was, and as a humorous paper could expect to be the butt of ivit. One evening Gilbert met F. C. Barnard, the then editor. Burnarid remarked: “ You know, ray dear fellow, it’s quite extraordinary tho number of really funny jokes we have sent from our readers.” “ Do you?” said Gilbert, sweetly. "Well, why on earth don’t you put them in?”

POPULAR WORKS DEMAND AT ATHEN/EUM IN 1336 In a comprehensive review of the activities of the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute during the past year, the vice-president (Mr H. Henderson), at the annual meeting of subscribers, submitted the following list of some of the more popular works in 1936 —Fiction.— ‘ A Poor Scholar,’ by C. R. Allen. ‘ Clansmen,’ by Ethel Boileau. ‘ Honourable Estate,’ by Vera Brittain. ‘ The Talisman Ring,’ by Georgette Heyer. ‘ South Riding,’ by Winifred Holtby. ‘ Eyeless in Gaza,’ by Aldous Huxley. ' Passport to Hell,’ by Robin Hyde. ‘ The Hunted,’ by Lee. ‘Gone With the Wind,’ by M. Mitchell. ‘ Weather in the Streets,’ by 11. Lehmann. ‘ They Walk in the City,’ by J. B. Priestley ‘ Greenstone Door,’ by W. Satchell. ‘ Green Gates,’ by Sherriff. ‘ Far Forest,’ by F. Brett Young. —General Literature.— ' Anthony,’ by Lord Lytton. ‘ Farewell to Fifth Avenue,’ by C. Vanderbilt. ‘The Fool Hath Said,’ by Beverley Nichols. ‘Gerald:. A Portrait,’ by D. du Maurier. ‘ln My Path,’ by Halliday Sutherland. ‘ Inside Europe,’ by Philip Gibbs. ‘ In the Steps of St. Paul,’ by H. V. Morton. ‘ Mrs Astor’s Horse,’ by S. Walker. ‘ News From Tartary,’ by Peter ing‘No Place Like Home, by Beverley Nichols. ‘ Return to Malaya,’ by Bruce Lockhart. ‘ Romantic Adventure,’ by Elinor Glyn. ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom,’ by T. E. Lawrence. ‘ Story of My Life,’ by Marie, Queen of Rbumania. ‘Way of a Ti - ansgiressor,’ by Negley Farson. ‘ What I Left Unsaid,’ by Daisy, Princess of Ploss. NOTES Paul Kruger was recently given prominence on the screen, but biographers have long neglected him. Now Miss Marjorie Juta, herself a South African, makes amends with a full-length study, ‘ The Paco of the Ox,’ which has just been published. Mr John Masefield is engaged on a new and ambitious work of fiction. It is a tale of the English countryside, and of the fortunes of a family, and it will occupy three volumes. The first deals with the 1870’s, when the head of the family becomes involved in a quarrel with the authorities because he champions a poacher whose gang has caused the death of a keeper. An outstanding example of literary criticism in a nutshell is that of Philo Vance, a fictional detective, by. an American book reviewer. He wrote:— Philo Vance Wants a kick in the pance. Equally telling are two dramatic criticisms quoted by Sir Seymour Hicks. Speaking of a Hamlet production, the critic remarked that a certain actor “played the King as if he were afraid that at any moment someone was going to play the Ace.” And of Wilson Barrett’s Hamlet one critic merely wrote: “Mr Barrett played Hamlet from 7.30 till 12.” Gilbert was not the only unkind one. An author, who was a school teacher, although, with his sunburnt face and neat, white beard, he looked more like a sea captain, was Lumi Pirandello, the distinguished playwright. He was an obscure teacher in a gilds’ _ school in Rome for 30 years until ‘ Six' Characters in Search of an Author ’ found him and brought him fame, leading him eventually to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934. Pirandello was a great smoker. He got through 120 cigarettes every day. And he was a great worker, writing—as did Julius Cfcsar —a lot while on the road. He worked in trains, in hotels, on ships, anywhere he happened to be when travelling the world attendjng his first nights. The American publishing firm of Appleton-Century has just issued a record of its activities, including those in which its forebear—for the house of Appleton-Century did not come into being until 1933—D. Appleton and Co., was engaged. And it gives ns the name of the world’s best seller in the English language—excluding the Bible. That book is the Webster Speller. The spelling book—written in 1782—0 f that remarkable schoolmaster and lexicographer, Noah Webster, was a best seller on the Appleton lists from 1855 onward. Between 1855 and 1890 the Appletons sold over 35,000,000 copies of the ‘ Speller,’ and in one yea»~lß66 —the sales reached the figure of 1,596,000. ‘

Examples of A. E. Housman’s tart wit are still cropping up. Here is one culled from Mr A. Edward Newton’s ‘ Bibliography and Pseudo-Biblio-graphy.’ An American bibliographer, seeing that a new; edition of ‘ A Shropshire Lad ’ was announced, wrote to Housman as follows:—“ I highly value my copy of the first edition; is there anything new important in your last?” To this Housman replied: “No, only a few new blunders replacing the old ones.” Mr Newton’s book, which the Oxford University Press is publishing in England, consists of three lectures delivered on the foundation established by Dr A. S. W. Rosenbach, the famous American collector and bookseller. That their appeal is not narrowly circumscribed will be gathered from Mr Newton’s confession that he is “a man who gets more pleasure out of reading a book than finding blunders in it.”

Some habits and peculiarities of various authors are disclosed by the literary sou- enirs which were on show at the London ‘ Sunday Times ’ Book Exhibition. From them we may learn, for instance, that when Rabbie Burns foregathered where “ drouthie neibors neibors meet,” he took snuff; that Robert Eyres Landor smoked cigars, but Charles Kingsley a pipe; that Charles Dickens wore a red velvet smoking cap, and Byron’s shirts were marked with his cipher and coronet. Carlyle’s calling cards—it was possible to note from a sample—carried a facsimile signature and were themselves carried in a tartan case; Matthew Arnold hung his watch at night on a stand surmounted by a gilt bird; Trollopo chewed the bone handle of his penholder ; and Kipling drew the outward and visiblo_ sign of his inspiration from a pewter inkstand. Thesfe are but small things. But they help us to draw portraits with the help of the mind’s eye.