IN BOOKLAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 April 1928, Page 7

IN BOOKLAND

“0 ltoiY-au Tree” is the title of another romance by 11. M • Macke nil a, to be published by Murray. a- •* X*

Sir Basil Thomson has written a mystery story .“Carfax Abbey. which vs to be pubisbed by Methuen. * * * * *

Stephen Gralvam recently finished a story which lie has entitled, (the Lay Confessor.” Renn is the publisher. * * « *

M. Poincare is writing a foreword lei ii book, “The Wur Guilt, Jy H. Yl'ilsou. which Sampson Low are to publish. # , , *

A new novel by Eden Philpotlfe is something of a- literary event. . 10 Bing Fence’’ is contained in Hutchinson.spring list. * * * * *

Victor Goliancz is the English publisher qf a volume of verse, “Tristram, by Edwin Arlington Robinson, which has been a “best seller” in Amenca. * * * r

Macmillan’s announce the publication of two books of some height, lbe Economic Impact of America, by Gcbrge Peel, and “The Irish l< ree State. 1922-1927,” by Denis Gwynn.

The reminiscences of Madame Yvette Guilbert are to be published, in an English translation, by Harrap. The title a literal rendering of the original, is Ihe Song of My Life.” **’ * * *

Several books oi more thon common interest-, ure forthcoming trom Hutchins on islio rll y. T hey illcl ude Mo 1 e Famous Trials,” by the Earl of Birkenhead; “My Life,” by the second wife of the ex-Kaiser; and Sir Harry Lauder’s long-promised reminiscences, entitled, “Roamin’ in the Gloamin’.”

The Bodley Head have just published the fourth volume of the- Golden Hind series of the lives of the explorers. J ins is “Sir Walter Raleigh,” by Milton Waldmaii. The previous volumesm the* series were : “Drake” (E. I. Benson), “John Smith” (Keble Ohatterton), and “Hudson,” by Llewelyn Powys. * * * * *

Mr. H, G. Wells lias written a book. “The Opera Conspiracy,” expressing what he regards as the central ideas ol his life. “Everything else that I have been or done seems to- me to have been contributory to or illustrative of these ideas and suggestions,” he says m his intieduction.

A well-preserved copy of the List edition of Dr. Johnson s Dictionary is on view at the doctor’s old home m Gough square, Fleet Street, London Thunks to Mr. Leicester Harmsworth, the house is now a Johnson museum, open daily. The dictionary lies open ior examination, and it is said tliat 99 per cent, of those who inspect the book turn first to “Oats,” which the doctor defined “u which in Euigluivd L generally given to horses, hut in Scotland support the people”—a definition which prompted a Scot to retort: “Hence the excellence of Scotland’s men and England’s horses. *****

The Bodley Head is publishing an English translation of .‘‘The Opinions of Anatole France,” by M. Nicolas Seguv. There is an introduction by Mr. Lewis May, who .says: “I have read a good many oin-distant- conversations with Anatole France, and in all instances, save tivo, I have said to myself, ‘The ideas may be the ideas of France, but the voice is the vioce of another.’ ” The exceptions to which lie refers are “The Opinions of Anatole France’ and its predecessor by M. Segur, “Conversations with Anatole France.”

.Mr. Bay, writing on Abyssinia, remarks that “The gulf which separates the’ mediaeval State of Ethiopia trom the modern world can only be bridged by understanding} unci understanding can only be born ot sympathy While, therefore, he gives a sketch of i lie “very strange and anomalous state el the country,” its peoples, and institutions', as lie and his wife saw them, be also sets out- definitely and clearly the standpoint of the Abyss in ia ns themselves, and shows Has Tata.ri as an enlightened ruler, trying to extricate iiis laud, full of natural resources, from the chaos of ages, and to bring it into line with the modern idea®'of civilisation. * * * * *

Poggio Bracciolini, the Italian humorist, wrote a book of jests to practise liis Latin, and entitled it “lacetiae, and so gave a name to a genre ot literature. He was the chief master ot a literary art, it it can be so called, ay liich, like him, dates back to the- fifteenth century. But his inspiration came from the ancients, “yvlio though men of great learning and wisdom, took delights in jests, witticisms', and fables.” Poggio visited England in 1425, and rvas the guest of Cardinal Beaufort. That is a link with, this translation by Mr. Edward Storer, of the University “FaceTiae” of the Italian and of other mediaeval story-tellers, and just published by Boutledge. ■K- # a- *- *

New books published in the United Kingdom during 1927 amounted to a total of 13,810, or 1011 in advance of 192(5, 608 more than in 1925,the previous record year. The bulk of the year’s iurn eases was in new editions, which number 6(56, as against 345 entirely new books. By far the greatest increases was in juvenile literature (412) and iiction (404). Religion also showed- a .substantial gain, as one might have expected from the interest taken during the year in theological and ecclesiastical discussions. The biggest drop was in technology (124). The order ol the principal totals ran": Fiction, juvenile literature, religion, Soeialogy, poetry, (including drama) and science. The domestic arts were at the bottom of the list, hut that fate was narrowly escaped by geography and works about music.

Air. J. A. Ha miiietton,. who lias just| published a volume of essays® oil “The Art and Craft of Letters.” has more than ordinary qualifications for the joblie began his career in letters in 1888. when in his nineteenth year he became assistant editor at Glasgow of the “Scottish Reformer.” This post he held until 1893. The-following year lie occupied a. similar position on the “Glasgow Daily Echo.” Then enlarging his journalistic experience in Blackpool, Nottingham, and Birmingham, Air. Hammerton in 1906 was appointed general editor of S. W. Partridge. While in Paternoster Row until 1.905 he contributed causeries to “Black and AVhitc.” the “Bystander,” and the “Daily Mail." “J. Af. Barrie and Hits Books” is one of the earliest of the books of Air. Haimnerton, who for over twenty v aars lias been closely associated with the chief publications that bear the name of Harmsworth.