BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

Evening Star, Issue 23497, 10 February 1940, Page 4

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

VERSES MINE SWEEPERS Dawn off the Foreland —the young flood making, Jumbled and short and steep— Black in the hollows and bright where it’s breaking— Awkward water to sweep. “_Min.es reported in the fairway, “Warn all traffic and detain. “ Sent up Unity, Claribel, Assyrian. t Stormcock, and Golden Gain.” ■ Dusk off the Foreland—the last light going And the traffic crowding through. And five dammed trawlers with their syrens blowing Heading the whole review! “ Sweep completed in the fairway. “ No more mines remain. “Sent back Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock, and Golden Gain.” —From a poem by (Rudyard Kipling (reprinted in the 4 National _ Review ’ by kind permission of Mrs Kipling). I WOULD BATHES BE AN OLD SAILOK 1 would rather be an old sailor Decrepit from the sea, Than a proud grand gentleman Living uselessly. I would rather be an old soldier With honourable scars, Than the handsomest tine gentleman That kept him from the wars. I would rather* be a poor mother With an ache in every bone, Than the finest gay harridan The world has ever known. And rather than bo a rich miser Counting roy paltry pence, I would rather be one dead for an hundred years Whose bones had reverence. —Agnes Grozier Herbertson, in the ‘ Observer.’ CARELESS MR JDAD An unusual libel action has just been Settled in England without a hearing in court. In his recent ‘Guide to Modern Wickedness,' Professor C. E. M. Joad described a service which he attended at his “local church,” which was further identified.as a “village church in « southern county ” by its proximity to “ a neighbouring big town.” > Tho author’s out-of-town address, as given in 4 Who’s Who,’ puts it beyond doubt that tho village in question is Mapledurham, near Reading. In his report of this service he was incautious enough to refer to the vicar in terms that were so “ extremely objectionable ” that the clergyman thus aspersed felt it necessary to seek a public disclaimer and apologyas the only adequate means open to him for the vindication of his professional character. He therefore brought an action in the King’s Bench against the author, the publishers, and the printers of the offending book. They agreed to make an apology in open court, to withdraw unsold copies of the book, to undertake that it will not be reprinted without the deletion of the objectionable passages, and, as an earnest of their sincerity, to pay the vicar the sum of £250, as well as meeting the whole of the expenses to which he has been put by reason of the publication. On his side the vicar is showing that he does not wish to make any personal profit out of the incident, for he is transferring the £250 to an ecclesiastical fund. It was stated in court that he is a clergyman of high reputation. who was presented to the living of Mapledurham by tho patrons, the Provost and Fellows of Eton College in recognition of his 25 years’ service in poor parishes within the London dioceee.

NEW BOOKS ANOTHER PENCARROW HOTEL MISS NELLE SCANLAN'S DEFT TOUCH A novel with a New Zealand background is always something of an event so far as Dominion readers are concerned at least, and when that novel is by a writer of the standing of Miss Nelle M. Scanlan in the literary world it assumes even more importance. Miss Scanlan has a number of notable successes to her credit, but she is best known by reason of her Pencarrow series, which have enjoyed wide popularity both here and at Home. Hor newest novel is the fourth of the series, and those who have followed with interest and delight the progress of the Pencarrow family through the various decades will enjoy ‘ Kelly Pencarrow.’ Miss Scanlan has a very. deft touch. She has the gift of narrative and characterisation to a degree, and she combines with them a rare sense of humour which prevents any of her characters from becoming more stilted things. No one would say that any character of a Pencarrow story was not shown as a live human being such as would be found in almost any New Zealand community. The latest story begins with a reunion of the Pencarrow family in the Wellington district, the first since the death of old Sir Miles Pencarrow, whose place as the recognised head has been taken by Kelly Pencarrow. It is to celebrate the silver wedding of Kelly and bis wife that the gathering of the clan has been arranged. The reunion is made the background for as entertaining a story as Miss Scanlan has written for a long time, and, with many of the older Pencarrows present and some of the younger ones talking a more important place, Miss Scanlan is given ample scope to develop the history of the Pencarrows still further. The excitement of the family reunion and the contrasting reactions of the older people and those of the more modern young ones are cleverly done. < Kelly Pencarrow ’ is equal to the best of the Pencarrow books, and will undoubtedly win for Miss Scanlan many new admirers. Our copy comes from the publishers, Robert Hale Ltd. (London). SHOULD PHILOSOPHERS BE KINGS? Countless generations of students have faced with Plato the problem of government associated with the idea of the Philosopher King. When the conception arose, Greek civilisation was in decline and the whole heritage of Greek culture was menaced. It was then that Plato, in all earnestness, put forward, as the best available means of salvation, his theory. He had definite views as to the character and capacity of the philosophers who were to become kings and save the situation. But his plan was not acceptable. The nature of philosophy precluded success. AH this is discussed by Professor A. Boyce Gibson, of the University of Melbourne, in ‘Should Philosophers be Kings?’ the aim of which is “to estimate the relevance of Plato’s views to our modern situation and to examine in the light of his findings the proper relation between the political and the philosophical life.” The leader is led to.think of Carlyle, whose hero is the Philosopher King of Plato (“a society governed from above by. its ablest and best’’), and of many like spirits. As the discussion proceeds, there comes into view a richer idea even than that of Plato—viz., the development of ordinary men into responsible and thoughtful citizens: not a few great and wise philo-sopher-statesmen, but whole populations of thinking, . self-disciplined persons, associated within the democratic commonwealth, exercising rule oyer their own concerns. It is an uplifting conception. Professor Gibson has written his essay with insight and expressed it in language that ensures it a place in literature. We commend the work to all students. The publishers are the Melbourne University Press, in association with the Oxford University Press. CHRISTOPHER BOND RETURNS Christopher Bond, that prince of amateur sleuths, has already acquired a considerable following. In * Jsoonday Devils * Mr Wyndham Martin, his creator, has produced another thriller in which that following will not be disappointed. Every kind of adventure attends Bond from the time a walking tour is rudelv interrupted by an abduction. until the finale—the uncovering of the international espionage plot with which the story, in the main, deals. Mr Martin writes a readable yarn, with plenty of action and enough suspense to maintain the interest. Christopher Bond has survived many experiences, and it is to be hoped that his headlong career will continue for the benefit of q)l armchair Herbert Jenkins Ltd. are the publishers. LACK OF SUBSTANCE If good writing and good characterisation were all that were necessary to make a novel successful, Alec Brown's 1 The Hollow Mountain ’ (published by Macmillan) would be well on the way to being a best-seller, but a novel requires story substance—particularly a long novel, ‘ The Hollow Mountain ’is a long novel, but length overbalances weight, so that the story of an English woman who leaves her husband, and, reaching the picturesque country of Dalmatia, proceeds to flit from man to man as fancy wills, becomes merely a dull repetition of pointless incident. There is not even the final saving grace of a moral, and the reader who wades through the 468 pages of the tale is left with a feeling of frustration, and certainly confused ns to reason of so much ado about nothing.

A LITER ARY CORNER

‘ WARTIME ECONOMICS' * Wartime Economics,’ by E. Ronald Walker, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Economics in the University of Tasmania, appears most opportunely, li is intended to give the reader an insight into the economic problem* which arise in wartime, and the measures which may be undertaken by th© government (in this case the Government of Australia) to meet them.. There can be no question about the existence of special wartime economie problems. “ There is an economic aspect of war,” says the author, “a* well as technical and political aspects, because the resources which are devoted to carrying on the war could, but for war (or its imminence) be devoted to other purposes.” The headings ta the chapters show the nature of thw problems dealt with:—“Elements ofl War Economics,” Organising Beat Resources,” “ The War and Industrial Development,” “ Price Fixing and Profit Control,” “ War Finance,” “ A! Financial Plan for Australia,” and “ Problems of Government.” Some of the subsidiary titles are even more revealing—e.g., “ The Importance of Price Control,” “Causes of Price Increases,” “ Methods of Price Control,” “Rent Control,” “Borrowing and Bank Credit,” “ What is Inflation?” No subjects could at this moment be more apropos than these, and politicians, publicists, and the general. public will . find them most suggestive. Necessarily, there is.much that is controversial, but there is also an exhibition of knowledge and a moderation and breadth of view that will commend the work to thoughtful readers. The publishers are the_ Melbourne University Press in association with the Oxford University Press. FAST-MOVING THRILLER The name of Max Brand on thA cover of a book is indicative of action within —he is recognised as one of the best writers of modern Western thrillers—and ‘ Gunman’s Gold ’ is written in his best vein. There .is \nbt one dull moment from the time the murder of two prospectors, who have discovered' wire-gold in the desert, is attributed to young Jack Reynolds, and the townspeople of Deerfoot prepare to lynch - him. Help comes from an unexpected quarter—mysterious Sam Shannigaa sets himself the task 'ef unfs^llingth© mystery. Sam, ugly of ■fadelbhut possessed of a brilliant bram and abnormal strength. Sam introduce* his ward, Mary Tracy, into the scheme'of things, passing her -off as Reynolds’s lovelv young wife in an effort; to play upon the emotions of the Deerfoot;citizens.There are some- hair-breadth escapes, and many thrilKng moments before Sam. unravels the mystery, hut even the most ardent devotee of Western stories i* unlikely to predict the expected denouement, This is one or the best Westerns to come this way for some time. Our copv came from the publishers (Messrs Hodder and Stoughton), SIMPLE, BUT STIMULATING PHILBSBPHY In these days, when, encouragement and guidance often means ©o. much, to those who are finding life a little' difficult, the booklet, ‘ The Art of Happy, Living,’ should halve a strong appeal. The author is MiSs Olive Mercer, who has already been responsible .for the publication of other similarly helpful books, and in this, her latest, there is the same cheerfully confident note. .But there is more than a mere admonition to “cheer up I” in these words which Miss Mercer addressee to her readers; she expounds a philosophy which, can scarcely fail to convince that material aid alone is insufficient to bring about that consummation so devoutly to be wished—a happy, contented state of mind. “ T’ve tried so often,. but-I’m not going to bother any more; it’s useless. “ A thing like that is too good to b* true. 1 would never expect it to happen to me.” “I don’t know-how. it is, but I always seem to have such had luck.” These, says Miss Mercer, are the kind of thoughts that bring u* quickly down into the dungeon below the tower; into darkness: into despair. But what good does it do you orJH to sink down into hopelessness, int* deep rejection and misery ? The author, however, not only tells you that yo% should do this or that, but tells you just, how to do it, and the instruction so clearly conveyed must have a stimulating effect. An inexpensive, but really helpful, little book. NOTES ~■ 4 - ' After a long search through all hi* writings for a suitable quotation to serve as an epitaph; the family of Thomas Wolfe has finally selected* sentence from his new novel, Th* Web and the Rock.’ The sentence is s' “Death bent to touch his chosen son with mercy, love, and pity, and put hi* seal of honour on him when he died. These words will be carved on th* stone which marks IVolfe’s grave in Asheville, Carolina. , The war, which has been responsib!© for the death of many journals, is t« see the birth of one to which.! look forward with rather lively ( interest (writes “Janus” in the tor’). It is a village product, its titl* * The Abinger Chronicle,’ ahd the contributors to its first issue includ* names on which any paper in the land might plume itself, among them thos* of Sir Max Beerbohm, E. M.Forator. and Dr Ralph Vaughan Williams—all local talent. Since Abinger also numbers amongst its residents Lord Lucard. Lord Farrer, Mr Roland Vaugnan Williams. E.C., and Mr Bechofer Roberts, well known both as biographer and writer of detective stories, there is plenty of scope for the new paper yet. The originator of the project, Mrs Cecil Sprigge, as wife of th© City Editor of the ‘ Manchester Guardian and daughter of the former ‘ Times ’ correspondent at Berlin, George Saunders, is no amateurl Other villages-please emulate.