IN BOOKLAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 September 1928, Page 18

IN BOOKLAND

'The manuscript of Mr. Pi. G. Wells’s new novel, “Mr. Blettsworthy on itampote , island,” has been dehvereu to Mr. Ernest Benn. In his new work Wells has returned to pure story-tell-ing.

A first edition of 60,000 copies oi

Stephen Vincent Benet’s narrative poem, “uolin Brown’s Body,” is announced from New Yorx. Mr. Benet wrote tire book in the South of Prance during two years granted him by a Guggenheim Memorial fellowship.

The o.dest firm of publishers in the world is Longmans, Green and Company. tiuce 17*4 they have been carrying on business on the same site in Paternoster now, London, but tr.e business was in existence even befo.e chat, .it belonged to William Taylor, who published the first authentic edition o. “Robinson Crusoe” in J7i9. More than that,- Messrs. Longmans .ire also the successors or Rivingtons, who commenced business in Waterloo Place in 1711.

Many books have been written about Disraeli; not so much has teen hearu of his wife. Some gaps in his biography may be filled by a book on nady lieaconsfielcl, by Mr. James Sykes, who, until lately, was assistant editor of tl;e “Yorkshire Post.” For if Lady Rea-onfield did. not come muen into the limelight, she had a great influence on her distinguished husband at home, as will be made clear from Mr. Syke’s biography of a charming and kindly woman.

Sir William Joyn.son-Hicks has written a volume entitled ‘The Prayer Book Crisis.” The author, alter tracing the origin of the English Prayer Book and the influences which have lea to the present movement lor revision, goes on to say that in his opinion the ‘‘medieval theology” of the Deposited Book would promote the rein trod action of those ceremonies and forms of devotion which earned the censure of the Royal Commission of 1906.

Mr. Warwick Deeping has found such a popularity as a novelist that a new story by him is almost a public e.ent. He recently wrote one entitled “Old P’ybus,” and it will appear with Cassell early in the northern autumn. Old Pybus, with a Caesar’s head on a diminutive tody, a soul of which he is a'lwnjs captain, and a mind keen and forthright, is the central figure of the romance, though others play their parts. They include Sorrell, whom 'Mr. Deeping revives Irom his first great success. “Sorrell and ton,” a novel which sfcill sells constantly in cheap editions.

Under the wide-spreading branches of an oak tree, rooted 400 years into English* history, there took place near Harlington, in Bedfordshire, one of the most appropriate services of the Runyan tercentenary celebrations. It was Irom this very tree, more than 2-10 years ago, that Bunyan used to preach to the dissenters when the restoration of ( harles 11. precipitated an earlier Prayer Book crisis. The main fork of the tree-it has a girth of just over 30;t-six .feet irom the gro.mcl, formed his pulpit, while his congregation sat on the rising ground beside it—-a natural arena. Great branches spring from the fork of the tree, forming an almost level platform two or three feat across, while bv a freak of wooer growth a ledge. 30 inches high, across the front makes a convenient reading desk.

Events which excite widespread interest, especially if they are tragicevents, are a. signal in America for ttie issue of “subscriptioti books,” -volumes ! which are dashed off at high speed by hack-writers to satisfy a demand for information regarding a sensational happening before the lirst surge of inj terest has died away. They are solo chiefly- bv salesmen who offer them from door to door. Sometimes they ! are “written” with the aid only or i scissors, paste-pot, and a bundle of newspapers containing a serial account of the crime, war, or earthquake which the book will describe.

Oxford, for the second time in its 'history, has conferred the annual poetry award known as Newdigate Prize upon a woman. The winner is Miss Angela M. F. Cave, who thus i succeeds the .only other woman winner, Miss Gertrude E. Trevelyan, who was successful last year. Both are from Lady Margaret’s Hall, one of the leading women’s colleges in Oxford. Tlie Newdigate Prize was founded in 1800 by the antiquary Sir Roger Newdigate. Among previous holders have been Matthew Arnold, .John Ruskin, and John Buchan. About the year 3SIO, Miss Rachel Burton, daughter of Dr. James Burton, competed and received top marks for the prize, but was disqualified because she was a woman.

A'cording to a popular vote among readers of the London “Spectator,’ the li.ing writers in the order of their popularity are:—l, H. G. Wells; 2, Rudvard Kipling; '3, George Bernard f haw; 4, John Galsworthy; 5, Arnold Bennett; 6, Sir. J. M. Barrie; 7, John Masefeld: 8, G. K. Chesterton; 9, Hu e Walpole; 10, Sheila Kaye-Smith. Ant one of these names was unanimously ac.orded a place among the first ten greatest writers, and no few-

er than 171 different names were considered eligible for the list. Among the foreign writers (of whom 22 were named;, M. Maurice Maeterlinck obtained the largest number of votes, followed closely bv Herr Feuchi wnngcr arid M. And e Maurois.

() all the copies of the First Folio of Shakespeare in the world Mr. Henry C. Folger (Washington) is said to own one-fourth, and these include the only known o ip.v of the first collected edition, in quarto; the Burdett-C outts .opy which has long been considered one of the three finest in existence, and rhe unique Sibthorp or 'Vincent cop.,, uncut and in original binding, and probably one of the very first topics printed, ’the Sibthorp copy was discovered in a coach house at Carwick Hall, England, the seat of Coningsby C. Sibthorp, by a member of the London firm of Southern and Co., who had gone to weed out worthless items and catalogue the rest. The .olio lay on top of a case of books, and its the assistant handed it down lie said, “ ' o good, sir, only old poetry.” Mr. Railton, of Sotheran, saw at once what it was.

Tsiere are approximately 61 devices for the reproduction or talking pictures registered at Washington. This includes patents applied for long before the use ol' talkers became practical.

Jock was learning to play the bagnines. One niaht while he was strutting about the ryom, skirling for all he war. wo th bis wife attempted a mild and very belated protest. “That’s an awful noir»? you’re 1-a.k-iim.” pV vliv'd.

Joe'- sot clown and took -off his boots, then stood up and resumed Iris piping in his stockinged feet.