BOOKS AND BOOKMEN A LITERARY CORNER

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 24

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN A LITERARY CORNER

VERSES

T 0 THOMAS HARDY Mingled the moonlight with daylight—the last in the narrowing VVest; Silence of nightfall lay over the shallowing valleys at rest In the Earth’s green breast: Jet a small multitudinous singing, a lully of voices of birds, [Unseen in the vague shelving hollows, welled up with my questioning words: [All Dorsetshire’s larks for connivance of sweetness seemed trysting to greet Him in whose poems the bodings of raven and nightingale meet. Stooping and smiling, he hearkened, “ No bird notes myself do I hear. ■Perhaps ’twas the talk of chance farers, abroad in the hush with us herein the dusk-light clear?” [And there peered from his eyes, as 1 listened, a concourse of women and men, : [Whom his words had made living, longsuffering—they flocked to remembrance again; f< 0 Master,” I cried in my heart, “ lorn thy tidings, grievous thy song; Yet thine, too, this solacing music, as we earth’folk stumble along.” —Walter de la Mare, in the ‘ Spectator.’- ' SIM OF ERIN Morwenna Mavoumeen, it’s I have been sleeping Ten years and a day with the folk of the Shee; 'And the little dark sisters of Caitilin weeping, And waters of Erin lamenting for me! Morwenna Mavoumeen, X lived with the fairies— Ten years and a day with the folk of the Shee — But och, I was sad for my little dark sisters, Deidrc and Maureen, and Brighid and thee. Morwenna Mavoumeen, the fairies were kind (Weep not for Caitilin, weep not for me) — But the spells that detained me are gone on the wind, And it’s home with the swallows in spring I will be. —Helen Brookfield. LETT m TO R.L.S. I imagine Barrie’s “ urgent desire ” that his private letters be destroyed will not apply to those that have a hearing on nis literary life (says a writer in the London ‘ Evening News.’) Away back in the ’nineties he established through the post an intimate friendship with Robert Louis Stevenson, and it certainly produced letters from the latter which throw light on the work of both. “ The deuce of it is, my dear fellow,” wrote E..L.S. from Vailima, “ tnat you write such a very good letter that I am ashamed to exhibit myself before my junior (which you are, after all) in the light of the dreary idiot I feel. ...” In one letter Stevenson says:—“ My dear Barrie, I am a little in the dark about this new work of yours: what is to become of me afterwards?” The new work _ was ‘ Sentimental Tommjr,’'whose likeness to Stevenson was meant to be in his literary temperament and passion, for the., right word.

NEW BOOKS A VALUABLE BOOKLET As a preliminary to the Moeraki centenary celebrations, which are to begin on Boxing Bay, a valuable and artistic booklet lias been issued by the Centenary Committee. It is the work of Mr and Mrs C. Hill-Scully, who were assisted in the historical researches by Mr K. C. M'Donald, M.A. The dedication is most appropriate. It reads;—“This souvenir we dedicate to the pioneers of the past and to the pioneering minds of the present who hold the key to tradition and progress.” In the matter of centenaries Moeraki, as the Prime Minister points o.ut in a foreword, is ahead of most other parts of New Zealand. The Dominion itself will not celebrate its centenary until 1940. The Moeraki rejoicings should properly have taken place last December, but circumstances necessitated their postponement till next month. Nothing should be lost by this, however, for the extra time gained will.no doubt have been valuable to the committee in enabling it to complete its arrangements on a comprehensive scale. The history of • this picturesque fishing village is full of interest. While whaling ships probably visited Moeraki in the early years of the last century, the compilers of the booklet say that the beginning of permanent pakeha occupation of the vicinity can with considerable confidence be stated to have occurred on December 26, 1836. The booklet in a most interesting way traces the progress and development of the district from that year down to the present day. There is a historical sketch of the Native settlement, and the publication is embellished with numerous appropriate pictures and reproductions of photographs, including one of William Isaac Haberfiekl and one of Mr George H. Reynolds, of Moeraki, a direct descendant of W. I. Haberfield, and John Hughes, who were the founders of the settlement. This souvenir booklet has been painstakingly compiled in order to ensure accuracy in detail, and it is a worthy effort to help the plans that are under way with the object of,making the centenary celebrations a success. The full programme for the three days of the celebrations is included in the booklet, CHHLD P6EMS ‘ The Bay and Padie Book,’ child poems by Furnley Maurice, the Australian poet, has already seen two editions. Now conies a third—convincing evidence of a popularity which in this case is based firmly on merit. The poems, revealing an intimate knowledge of children with all their humours and

ways, are the better for being as far as possible in child language. Whether or not children enjoy them, they are certain to he appreciated by parents. Published by the Melbourne University Press, in association with the Oxford University Press. THRILLING CHINESE YARN Because of its close-connection with China, which is very much before the public eye, at .the present time,. ‘Dragons to Slay’ shoudl appeal to a. wide circle of readers, even, though its: story has no actual connection with the Far East situation. It is a x>urely fictitious yarn of thrills and adventure, hut draws a most intimate picture of a particular class of Chinese, with whom the author, ‘ Bok,’ was personally associated for some years. ‘ Dragons to Slay ’ is an exciting book from cover to cover, telling a remarkable story of violence, theft, and bloodshed that is not so gruesome perhaps as its description suggests 1 . Knowledge of China and 'the minds of its people are valuable to the author in obtaining that convincing note that is all-important in storytelling. The publishers, Herbert Jenkins Ltd., have sent us a copy of this book. HUMAN TOUCH The story of a girl’s struggle for a better life than her early surroundings promised to give her and the subsequent effect of her freedom on her nature is interestingly told by Hilda Lewis in ‘ Pegasus Yoked.’ It is a human story that is built on entertaining lines, as it traces the leading character’s transformation of moods. Her fight is by no means as simple as she at first imagines, and, even though disillusionment comes as a result of contact with the surroundings she longs for, she maintains a stout heart and continues her struggle, but this time it leads her hack to the life she previously left. The author pens her incidents with a deft touch, piecing them together in their logical order, and claims the attention of the reader throughout. ‘Pegasus Yoked’ is published by Hurst and Blackett Ltd., and our copy is fj-om Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd.,

LORD BALDWIN'S SPEECHES The publishers have done well in reprinting at a cheap price, under the title of ‘ Service of Our Lives,’ the fourth volume of Lord Baldwin’s speeches—l 7 addresses delivered during the last year and a half of his Prime Ministership. Surely so many occasions for great speeches have seldom been presented in such a short space of time —the unveiling of memorials to Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beatty, the death of King George V., the abdication of King Edward VIII., the Coronation of King George VI., the death of Lord Grey of Fallodon, and also that of Sir Austen Chamberlain. There are the addresses also in which the retiring statesman expressed the philosophy of his life, and described “ the torch I would hand on.” Simple, sincere, and wise with much experience, the speeches are also a well of English undefiled, such language as one would wish a great statesman of one’s day to hand on to his successors. Hodder and Stoughton, London, publishers. • STBOM RANCH' This novel is a splendid one of the Western type, and is well told by Denver Bardwell. Plotting by the foreman of the Storm Ranch, Snooks Pullman, is overheard by Ross Morrell, a friend of Jason Storm, the owner of the ranch. Ross and his father, who own a small ranch near the Storm Ranch, are firm friends of Jason Storm. One night, whilst a round-up is taking place, Jason Sto,rm is shot and killed. Almost simultaneously during a heavy rainstorm Ross shoots and kills Storm’s assassin. Pullman, however, had been ready for any loophole, and at once blames Ross for the murder Prior to the night of the tragedy Storm’s niece, Marylin, arrived at the ranch. She apparently inherits the ranch through the death of her uncle. Some weeks later a person arrives who claims to bo Jason Storm’s brother, and he claims the ranch. By this time the cowhands are suspicious, and, led by Ross, they proceed to clean up the “ gang.” The efforts of the ranch hands to rid the country of these desperadoes provides the story with many exciting incidents. The publishers are Messrs Robert Hale and Co.

NEAT MURDER MYSTERY If it is possible for a writer of crime fiction to achieve something fresh in the treatment of bis favourite theme that distinction may be deservedly awarded to G. W. Wicking, who has followed up his fast-moving ‘ Boom-time Gold ’ with an equally absorbing novel, ‘ The Glory Box Mystery.’ His Detective Greenwood, the official hero of the story, is a likeable individual who l holds the reader’s interest throughout the gripping incidents that colour his investigations into crimes involving three murders. The scene is laid in Melbourne. While making some purchases at a furniture emporium a customer discovers in a glory box the body of a partner of the firm. This tragedy and its side issues pave the way for as exciting a piece of detective fiction as it is possible to imagine. Nevertheless, the quick-firing action is skilfully relieved by touches of comedy and a leavening of romantic features that end up on a bappy note. Our copy comes from the publishers, Messrs Angus and Robertson. POPULAR TASTE IN BOOKS The annual report of the St. Paneras Borough librarian, recently given some publicity in the London Press, shows some interesting trends in popular taste. The Camden Town borrowers lean towards fiction; those that use the Highgate library prefer nonfiction. At Highgate, which is a more pronouncedly “ residential ” area than Camden- Town, non-fiction falls into the following order of preference:—

Drama, poetry, essays; Geography and travel; Useful arts and applied science;' Economics, political science, etc.; History; and Fine arts- . The. fluctuating popularity of individual authors is shown in the following . lists of those whose books have maintained or gained favour and those who are in declining demand:— RISING. DECLINING. G. K. Chesterton Kipling Galsworthy Barrie Walpole Masefield Maugham Conrad Eden Philpotts Michael Arlen ,H. A. Vaohell H.' G. Wells Compton Mac- Pett Ridge. kenzie Chesterton is much more popular in Camden Town than in Highgate. Wells’s decline does not affect his early “ character ” novels nor his sociological works. Dickens maintains a popularity which he now shares with Jane Austen. Boys have forgotten Ballantyuo and Henty. They read Dickens, Kipling, Stevenson, and Conan Doyle. Kipling and Dickens are equally popular with Angela Brazil among the girls. Broadcasts cause an immediate demand for books on the subject dealt with in the talks and for the works of authors who broadcast. Library censorship is not a problem which troubles St. Pancras. The librarian reports that “ the reading public exercise a censorship of their own.” A book is withdrawn from general circulation after it has been objected to three times.

ALEXANDER THE GREATEST The case of the historical novelist has been getting harder and harder; not only must his facts be licensed by “ authorities,” and his properties authentically “ period ” down to the last candle-holder, but unless he adds his mite to the treasury of serious historical criticism, he is liable to be frowned on as a light follow. The old carefree, sword-and-cloak days are gone. Times are changed—even past times, as far as the novelist is concerned; for Romance has left them, and, indeed, it is difficult to find her anywhere in fiction just now. History has hunted her out of the past, detectives warn her off the present, and everywhere she is ambushed and put to flight by Psychologj’. She has lost her reputation—most undeservedly, I think—and lives, in very reduced circumstances, upon the shelves of the twopenny library. There, you may still obtain your “ twopence coloured ” ; but the novelists of repute devote their efforts to producing the “ plain ” variety—at seven and sixpence. It is not so nnich_ the material of romance that is lacking; adventurous episodes, heroic characters, and a good story are often to be had in the best modern novels; but these are trappings, and underneath them Pegasus is a horse of very sober gait. It is not the matter, but the manner that suits itself so ill to the company of Romance. The modern romancer, even if he avails himself of the more remote world of history, is too much concerned with verisimilitude. If he plunge into the stream of romance, he must swim with one toe on the ground—he sends up his brightly-coloured bubble, and the pressure of his mundane atmosphere hursts it in a few moments. Where is the dash, the verve, the sublime disregard of reality, and the soaring into the empyrean of heroic fancy that characterised the romantics of- the old school? Where aro the followers of Dumas?

“ Alexander the Greatest,” he was once called by Professor Saintsbury, and the title is well deserved; for where Alexander the Great sighed for more worlds to conquer, Alexander the Greatest manufactured his own, and conquered it in doing so. That, in fact, is the secret of his greatness; that is the secret of all genuine romance. He ‘conjured up a different world, and he made it “real,” not by attempting to make it satisfy the demands and conditions of the world we know, but by keeping it all in proportion, true to itself, and true to the possibilities, though not the actualities, of human nature. D’Artagnan, for example, is not one of us as Mr Britling is; but he is, for all that, as true as a poet’s vision, and I, at least, find him more inspiring company than Mr Wells’s introspective hero. Indeed, it seems to me that Dumas’s romances are a kind of poetry; and though the moderns label them “ escapist,” I am not so sure that one does not return from an escapade with him with a saner vision and a wider experience than is to be gained from prowling with the realists. In a sense, the latter, too, are apt to write of another world; for they use a microscope, which reveals a fantastic universe, no doubt strictly factual, but which, unsuspected and unconsidered by the ordinary man, is too great a refinement on his experience to come home to him with much force.

On the other hand, the lessons to be had from Dumas’s books may be simple, and even, if you will, primitive—although it is hard to include such qualities as loyalty, good fellowship, and a stiff but not unhumorous upper lip in such a term —but they are neither unessential nor obscure. They teach, in a word, ideals; and though Dumas was no idealist, his new world did, so to speak, redress the balance of the old, rather than exaggerate its precarious poise.

Since Dumas ; there have been few good writers, except Stevenson, who have thought it worth their while to carry on his tradition of romance. One must certainly mention Stanley Weyman, who had more than a touch of the grand manner, and whose novel, ‘ A Gentleman of France,’ Stevenson once praised as “ a gallant little book ”; but to-day only Mr John (Buchan, and Mr A. E. W. Mason, among writers who have made their mark, can ruffle it in anything like the authentic style. Setting aside, however, any question of romance or realism, it is still difficult to find a reply to the challenge that Stevenson issued, when writing of Dumas’s ‘ Vicomte de Bragelonne ’: “ What other novel has _ such epic variety and nobility of incident? . . . What novel has more good sense, and gaiety, and wit, and unflagging, admirable literary skill? Finally, _ what novel is more secure of that which he has called “ the particular crown and triumph of the artist—not to be true merely, but to be lovable; not simply to convince, but to enchant”?—Eric Forbes-Boyd, in ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’-

‘ANTHONY ADVERSE' HUGE WORLD ROYALTIES Mr Hervey Allen, author of * Anthony Adverse,’ world royalties on which are estimated to be £40,000 a year, plans to leave his home in Maryland, U.S.A., and to take a house m England next year. He told an interviewer that he intends to write a novel dealing with Roman Britain. He will live in England for some time to collect materials and to write the book, “ I have not been in England since 1929,” he said, “ and the difference in the. country is tremendous. At that time there was an atmosphere of tension which made the American feel uneasy over here. Now _ all that is changed—you have the feeling that you have come back homo when you arrive in London.” The sales of 1 Anthony Adverse,’ which Mr Allen took four years to write, have been so enormous that he himself has no certain idea of the figure. “ I imagine it must be something like 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 copies,” he said. “ There have been translations into almost every known language.” Next spring Mr Allen’s new novel ‘ Action at Aquila ’ is to appear in England. The action takes place during the American Civil War. “ The book will only have about 300 pages,” he said. “ 1 think it is a mistake to suppose that because a fat book succeeds the public read it simply because it is fat.” He believes that the public which gave his novel its prodigious sale were the good old-fashioned readers, who like to have something they can get their teeth into.” “ The world is sick of pathological novels,” ho added. “It is the novelist’s confession of weakness when he has to explore the morbidly extraordinary to find his material,”-

NOTES Messrs Thomas Avery and Sons, of New Plymouth, will publish before Christmas a new book by T. Lindsay Buick, C.M.G., F.R.Hist.S., the subject being ‘ The Moa-huntcrs of New Zealand.’ The purpose of the book is to bring within two covers what is known of that period of the Dominion’s history when it was inhabited solely by the Maori, and when its open spaces were roamed over by the moa. That this bird was hunted, killed, and eaten by man is a fact now established, but this book will tell just bow, when, and where this happened.

The Oxford University Press has issued a new addition of D. A. Lowrie’s ‘ Masaryk of Czechoslovakia.’ The book, which was first issued in 1930, has been brought up to date throughout. A chapter, containing two fresh illustrations, carries the stox-y down to his death.

The University of London Press is publishing immediately a new exotical study of the lives and works of the Brontes, entitled ‘ The Mii’aclo of Haworth,’ by W. Bertram White, head master of the Mansfield Central School, Nottinghamshire. Mr Aldous Huxley, who is staying at Taos, in New Mexico, has just finished a new book to be called ‘ Ends and Means.’ It is described as a philosophic study on the theme that “no single thing in itself can secure happiness for mankind.”

Mr Hervey (Anthony Adverse) Allen has been paying a brief visit to England. He has now gone to Germany to try to obtain some of the royalties due to him. Later on Mr Allen may return to England to write his projected novel on Roman Britain, but this may not be for some time.

The latest attack on the book clubs comes from the head master of a wellknown English* secondary school, who denounces them for selecting for people what they should read. He described them as a deadly peril to growing boys, who will need every ounce of clear, broad, individual thinking with which to face a world that is going to provide them with some desperate problems to solve.

Mr E C. Trelawney-Ansell, who calls his reminiscences * One of the Leaderless Legion,’ is descended from Edward John Trelawney, the swashbuckling friend of Shelley and Byron. Like his ancestor, Mr Trelawney-Ansell has led an adventurous life. In 50 years he has been soldier and pioneer in Matabelcland, Arctic mail carrier, gold miner, rum runner, and colonel in a Mexican rebel army.

Mr H. J, Massingham is editing for the Nonesuch Press a fully annotated edition in two volumes of the writings of Gilbert White, of Selbome. Besides the ‘ Natural History of Selbornc,’ the edition will iiiclude a selection of letters, the ‘Naturalist’s Journal,’ excepting the part incorporated in the ‘Natural History,’ and the ‘ Antiquities of Selborne,’ omitting some lengthy Latin charters.

Not since 1911 has an Australian national bibliography been attempted. The Commonwealth National Library, Canberra, is now producing an “ Annual Catalogue of Australian Publications,” the first issue'of which covers the output for 1936. About 200 individuals or organisations published a single _ book during the year, and 47 firms issued two or more. The record is spread oyer all the States, New South Wales being in the lead with 238 imprints, Victoria second with 136.

Mr J. B. Priestley recently told an interviewer that, while he reads and rereads the writings of others six times over, he seldom turns again to old books of his own. There are two dangers in the habit, he says. First, the author may feel; “By Jove, this is grand stuff! ” and immediately think that the novel he is working on isn’t up to standard. Second, he may say: “ Why on earth did I ever allow this to he published? It can’t have done me any good.” Both these reactions are depressing.

Rafael Sabatini comes of a musical family. His father and mother were both prominent opera slngers t the former a celebrated tenor and singing master who was knighted for his services to music. During a visit to New York, Rafael Sabatini was approached by a taxi driver, who said: “It is a great pleasure to he driving you, Mr Sabatini. I used to hear your father sing at La Scala in Milan.’

A sort of modern George Borrow, so far as peregrinations through Spain and authorship are concerned —is Mr Ralph Bates, who has just published ‘ Rainbow Fish.’ He knows the Spain that no tourist ever sees, having travelled all over the country on foot and speaking the language as well as he talks English. He knows most of the Mediterranean ports, for he was a sailor and for some years worked in the dockyards at Barcelona. And he is a great walker. When he came to England to find a publisher for his first book he came all the way on foot —except when he was crossing the sea —and he probably paced the deck on that stage of the journey, too.

Few men of letters have had a longer career than Mr Robert Hichens (says ‘John o’ London’s Weekly’)'. He published his first novel at 16, and when * The Green Carnation ’ appeared in 1894, ho was still under 20. He had to write another dozen novels, however, before he made his first big success in 1905 with ‘ The Garden of Allah.’ It was in his mind, he says, for five years, and the actual writing occupied two more. Mr Hichens originally intended to be a musician, and many of the lyrics ho wrote as a young man were set to music by famous composers. One of his songs, ‘ A Kiss and Goodbye,’ was a favourite with Madame Patti.

lii ‘ The Woman Who Rose Again,’ Gleb Botkin tells the story of the woman whom he believes to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas 11. of Russia. As son of the court physician, Mr Botkin knew the Imperial family intimately, and ho is convinced that the woman who represents herself as the only surviving daughter of the Tsar is really what she claims to be. A large part of his book deals with Anastasia’s sojourn on Long Island, during which time Mr Botkin was unremitting in his efforts to bring about her recognition by the surviving Romanoffs. His efforts were not successful, but he has not lost hope.