'ITALIAN JOURNEY'

Evening Star, Issue 25849, 20 July 1946, Page 5

'ITALIAN JOURNEY '

While serving -with the New Zealand Division in Italy, Dr G. Blake Palmer, of Auckland, was given special facilities to wander about the country for the purpose of collecting material for articles for the .forces newspaper and broadcast talks. He was thus enabled to gather a wealth of information on many aspects of Italian life and the ancient . and modern history of the country. Since returning to New Zealand, he has rewritten and revised his articles, and notes and published them in book, form under the title of ' Italian Jouraev,' which is issued' by OswaklSealy (N.Z.) Ltd. Dr Palmer is an ardent archaeologist, and 1 so was in a position to appreciate and describe Italy's ruins and monuments. Unfortunately the doctor is no H. V. Morton, unci, although his book would he a valuable tourist guide, his style of writing does not tend to hold the attention the amount of work put into it deserves. The mass of dry detail at times is overpowering. For those who served in the Italian campaign, it will revive memories of places visited and fought over. ,The illustrations, which consist of photographs and drawings of examples of Italy's sculpture and architecture, are excellent and well chosen.