NEW BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 4

NEW BOOKS

GUIDE-BOOK TO LEARNING

“ Considering our present advanced state of culture, and how the Torch ot Science has now been brandished and borne about, with more or less effect, for 5,000 years and upwards; how, in these times, especially, not only the Torch still burns, and perhaps more fiercely than ever, but innumerable Rushlights, and . Sulphur matches, kindled thereat, are also glancing about in every direction, so that not the smallest cranny or doghole in Nature or Art can remain unilluminated —it might strike the reflective mind with some surprise that hitherto little or nothing of a fundamental character, whether in the way of Philosophy or History, has been written on the subject of Clothes.” Substitute the” phrase “ art of reading ” for Carlyle’s word, “ clothes,” and you have in his introductory paragraph to ‘Sartor Resartus ’ the perfect comment on the latest of guidebooks—Mortimer J. Adler’s ‘ How to Read a Book.’ That claim includes the gentle barbs, and takes cognisance of an additional 110 years during which the Torch has positively flared. This Angus and Robertson publication has sold to the extent of 80,000 copies in the United States and elsewhere, and that fact in itself is one of the more hopeful signs of the times. Adler calls his hook “ light.” Light it is not, but read according to the author’s own prescription, it is interesting, and intensely valuable. ■ Reading —-in its deepest sense—is an art, the art, claims the author, of getting a liberal education.

It is a pleasing sign, moreover, that the swing of the pendulum of modern education has it away from the excursions into experiment so painfully prevalent in this Dominion. The royal road to learning follows the only road, and that is hut corduroy. Adler stresses the fact that learning cannot be lightly gained. Perhaps, if it teaches that lesson, this hook will have earned its author the highest of rewards.

HIGHLAND ROMANCE NEW MAURICE WALSH NOVEL. The publication of a new Maurice Walsh novel is generally welcomed by people who appreciate good fiction as one of those events which greatly relieve the strain of selecting an ideal gift hook. In ‘ The Hill is Mine ’ Mr Walsh drops historical works for the time being and returns to a Scottish setting of the kind in which he laid the scene of his first and highly-acclaimed book, 1 The Key Above the Door.’ With the same facile pen, gifted in poetic portrayal of life in the Highlands, he has written an entertaining tale of modern times. It may be that some of this author’s many admirers will regret that for his chief male character he has chosen an American—not because anything will he held Against Americans, but rather on account of the impression that Mr Walsh is . not quite so comfortable in delineation of the transatlantic character as of his own kith and kin. Such is his undoubted craftmanship in every other way, however, that his latest effort may, without reserve, be termed another triumph. The adventures of Stephen Wayne, the man from Montana, who inherits a croft (not the conventional large estate, thank goodness) from his Scottish grandmother, and who visits the place to give it the “ once over,” but remains long enough to find romance, will be followed with enjoyment by all Walsh readers and others now fortunate enough to come under his spell. The book is published by Messrs W. and R. Chambers, and our copy comes from Messrs Wfaitcombe and Tombs. • SALLY SCARTH' Miss Naomi Jacob has gone * long way on the road of literary fame since her first novel, ‘ Jacob Ussher,’ drew attention to her outstanding ability. Sally Scarth, in her latest book, ‘ Sally Scarth,’ is an outstanding character, and although the theme of the story is not new. Miss J acob has given it several unexpected twists and makes it one of her best achievements. Sally, an illegitimate child, goes to work at Stallingford Manor, the seat of the Earl of Stallingfoi’d. She devotes her whole life to the family, and falls in love with the heir to the earldom, who offers to. marry her, hut Sally’s good sense shows her the social difficulties and complications. She marries an honest country man, but once again returns to Stallingford, and destiny runs its course._ How Sally plays her part as the faithful but independent retainer is a story well told and well worth reading. Hutchinson and Co. (London) are the publishers, and our copy is from Whitcomhe and Tombs Ltd. BERNARD NEWMAN’S LATEST THRILLER The distinctive name that Bernard Newman has made for himself as a writer of espionage thrillers assures a warm welcome for ‘ Siegfried Spy,’ newly published by Victor Gollacnz. Its central character is again that intriguing Frenchman, Papa Pontivy, who proceeds to outwit the German secret service in the heart of the Siegfried Lino and other equally uncomfortable places. Air Newman himself is, of course, Papa Pontivy’s companion in a series of highly exciting adventures. Incidentally, Mr Newman tells these tales in such a manner as to suggest that he was actually involved. He contrives, moreover, to give them such an atmsphere of conviction that one begins to wonder exactly how much is fiction and how much is fact. But if he does strain one’s credulity at times, Air Newman is nevertheless a first-class story teller. This new work is in bis best style, and is guaranteed to hold the reader’s interest completely. It moves at an extremely fast pace and has plenty of colour and, excitement. Air Newman revives in it the celebrated “ Officer in the Tower Case,” and gives it an exceedingly ingenious twist. It is worth mentioning here that while Air Newman was completing the hook he was engaged in special service with the B.E.F. in France (which is scarcely surprising), and his manuscript naturally had to be passed by the censor before it could he sent to the publisher. It was duly passed, and the censor, for his own personal satisfaction, then made a journey of 200 miles to see Air

Newman and find out for himself tha contents of the preceding chapters! Our copy of this interesting work comes from Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, THE ‘ROUND TABLE' The leading article in the fourth! war number of the * Round Table,’ entitled ‘Hitler and Common Sense,’ is a reply to the appeal addressed by Hitler after the collapse of France to tha “ reason and common sense ” of the ' world at large. The writer points out (1) that it is impossible to come to terms with Hitler, since he never keeps faith, and (2) that a cessation of fighting now could only be a truce, since Hitler would be forced both by his desire for world empire and by tha difficulties of his position in Europe t<* use his conquests to build up air and sea power for a second war.' . The next article is the fourth of tha series on ‘ The Strategy of the War.’ It gives an authoritative and detailed account of the whole course of the military operations on the Continent front the German attack on Holland to Petain’s capitulation. ‘ War Economy and Finance,’ renews the appeal which; the ‘ Round Table ’ has consistently made since the outbreak of war for a, resolute attempt to avoid_ inflation by taxation, compulsory saving, or the shortening of consumable supplies. The last Budget failed to grasp the nettle since it contained no provision for the limitation of spending by the whole community. ‘ The British Commonwealth at War,’ is an attempt to assess the war strength of the Commonwealth as a whole. Of special interest is tha account given of the response of the native peoples of the tropical dependencies to the cal! for a common war effort. The rest of the number is made up of articles from Great Britain and correspondents in the United States, Ireland, India, and the Dominions.