IN BOOKLAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 March 1929, Page 16

IN BOOKLAND

A long hut unfinished story left behind by Mary Webb, with the title, ‘ ‘ Armour Wherein He Trusted, ’ ’ was to have been issued by Cape early iu the new year.

Five pages of Dickens’ original manuscript of “The Pickwick Papers” have been purchased in London by Dr. Itosenbach, the American book collector. The 132 lines deal with the midnight meeting of Arabella Allen with Mr Pickwick and Mr Winkle in the garden.

A Bible and prayer book, once the property of Dr. Samuel Johnson, discovered recently by an itinerant book seller, have been acquired by Gabriel Wells, of New York. The Bible contains marginal notes in Dr Johnson’s own handwriting, and was given by him to his cousin, Thomas Johnson. . . - • * “The Rediscovery of Scotland” (Paul), by George Malcolm Thomson, an Edinburgh no w a Journalist in London, A a scathing and provocative criticism of some of the characteristics of the author's fellow-country-men. The temper of the whole land, he declares, is one of defeatism. Scotsmen do not own their country; they rent it ou a short lease.

The greatness of tho vogue of detective stories may be gauged by the fact that in America there is a DetectiveStory Club. It has recently chosen Lynn Brock’s “The Slip-Carriage 1 Mystery” as the best detective novel pub lished in 192 S in England or America.

Britons will be both pleased and surprised to learn that Mr A. A. Milne’s ‘ ‘ Winnie-the-Pooh” has been trans iated into German. The Berlin correspondent of the “Observer” says chat considering how many years Germany gave fairy tales and legends to English nurseries, the translation of the English children’s books, which began with “Dr Doolittle,” should be regarded as something gained for this branch of literature. Tho correspondent sends another interesting piece on few r s. Mr Edgar Wallace is very popular in Germany. Not only was “The Squeaker” going to be produced as the principal Christmas novelty on the Berlin stage, but Edgar Wallace, in German translation and in Tauchnitz, now occupies a place in bookshop windows sacred hitherto to Mr Shaw and Air Galsworthy. W * * *

The curious discovery of an author, •who, having a book published, not only refused to have it distributed, but even preserved on the museum shelves, was recently made by the British Museum authorities. There has beeu one other similar ease in fifty years, the authorities state. According to the Copyright Act of 1842, a copy of every book published in Britain must be deposited in the British Museum. The author of a recent work decided after it had been published that ho was dissatisfied with it, and he wanted to destroy all the copies. He even refused to allow the museum its copy of the unwanted work, “Tho World Shall Miss a Great Tra>gedian,” and they were compelled to take action to secure it.

The production of a great literary work from the author’s rough notes to first manuscript, and then from printer’s proof to completed first edition, was recently tho subject of an interesting exhibition in London. The works of John Galsworthy were being shown and first editions of every one of his books were on view. The exhibition illustrated the tremendous labour of the “Forsyte Saga,” and every step in the production of this outstanding literary work could be realised. Galsworthy is one of thoso authors who toil over their original efforts, changing words and sentences many times until they are convinced that every paragraph is as excellent as they are able to make it. It was this improving process, as it proceeded under Galsworthy’s hand, that made the exhibition of his manuscripts and proofs so interesting.

“In literature there is no east or Avest, no north or south, no black or white. It renders human nature divine. We all come from the one common place. We all go back to it, and while wc are here much the same sentiments animate us, the same struggles and anxieties fill our hearts, and it appears that there is no tame for division and rupture, quarrels and misunderstandings. In all that you value in your life the east and west is alike, and so, after all, look at it as you will, the human family is one, and we are all brothers and sisters.’’ This is an extract from one of the addresses delivered by Mr V. S. Sastri, the AgentGeneral of India in South Africa. He was discussing Indian literature, and after referring to the poetic charm of “Sakuntala,” by the poet Kalidasa, motioned that he had noticed certain similarities of ideas and expression between Kalidasa and Tennyson, amd suggested that many others of the kind Avould present themselves to those familiar with English iltcraturo. He had often felt, in fact, that there were affinities deep and far-reaching between all members of the Ayran family, not only in language alone, bait equally in fundamental ideas and aspirations.

of the works of Charlotte Bronte Avill be interested to knoAA' that the entire collection of Bronte treasures belonging to Henry Bonnell, of Philadelphia, wore bequeathed by him to the museum established in the old rectory at Haworth, Yorkshire, and have again safely crossed the Atlantic. The old parsonage where the famous sisters lh'ed has been conA’ertcd into a museum. The building was made fireproof, but Avas left otherwise intact. Many rare and priceless manuscripts of first editions are possessed by the Bronte Society, while the chief interest in the Bonnell collection is its extensive juA’eniles. Dozens of A r erses and thousands of lines of fiction were written by each member of the family when children. Minute volumes “printed” in their own hands were in some cases illustrated by Avater colour sketches. One by Charlotte, w'ritten at the age of eight, concerned the adventures of a little girl named “Ano” (Ann). First editions of all the Bronte Avorks were included in the collection, that of “Jane Eyre” being considered particularly valuable.