A DELVE INTO THE BOOK-BAG

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 October 1934, Page 13

A DELVE INTO THE BOOK-BAG

Mrs Emily Temple Thurston lias finished her novel, “The Wandering Jew.” The book is based on her late husband’s famous play, and Putnam’s announce it for publication shortlj'. *****

It do not see why looking at people should be considered a less aesthetic pleasure than looking at pictures.— Mr Robert Lynd. R

Mrs Lilian Dryden, who died recently at Newcastle-on-Tync, at the age of seventy-nine, was the last surviving child of Samuel Smiles, author of ‘ ‘ Self Help.” •**#**

Mr S. I. Hsiung, author of the recently published play, "Lady Precious Stream,” appeared on the Chinese stage when he was fifteen, and at age of eighteen translated Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography into Chinese. *** • * *

The Earl of Athlone thinks modern inventions have weakened the writing muscle. Modern authors would be aghast at the thought of the manual labour involved in Charles Dickens’s work, where every book was written and every correcion made by the novelist’s own hand.

Mr Grant Richards, the publisher, has written his reminiscences, which are to be published by Mr Hamish Hamilton. Mr Richards left school at fifteen, and at seventeen was working on ‘ ‘ The Review of Reviews” under the late W. T. Stead.

Mr Thorne Smith, the American author of a number of lightly farcical novels, has died at the age. of fortytwo years. Several of his books have been published in london, and arrangehad been made to issue others there.

A signed manuscript copy of Baring Gould’s famous hymn, "Onward, Christian Soldiers,” given by the author to Miss Evelyn Healey on her birthday in 1921, was recently sold in London for £24. The original manuscript of this hymn appears to be lost. It was written in 1865 for the use of those attending the author’s mission at Horbury Bridge, near Wakefield. *** * * *

More than one and a quarter million books were removed from the old building of the Cambridge University Library and from other storage places to the new building. The transfer was made between June 1 and July 26. The books were packed in about twenty-four thousand eases.

The United States Appeal Court has decided that . Mr James Joyce’s "Ulysses” is neither immoral nor obscene, and that it should not be banned in the United States* This decision upholds, against the appeal made by the Government, the- ' ruling given by Judge Woolsey last December in the Federal .Court.- ;

"The trouble with all amateur journalism is that it is an attempt to write literature, and tha.t is hopeless,” said a Birmingham journalist in. a recent lecture. "If Charles Dickens were writing articles- to-day I doubt if they would be accepted, except by a few papers. Method of expression changes, and the average reader of to-day is swaying in a bus- or train while he reads. If the paragraphs are long, he won’t get the gist of them.” * * * * *

"TUI’S ANNUAL, 1934.” "Tui’s Annual” this year comes in a changed garb, and with a wealth of New Zealand talent between its covers. Enlarged in size to 162 pages, and beautifully printed on good quality paper, it sets an all round standard of quality that is exceedingly creditable to the numerous writers, photographers and artists whose contributions are featured in it. With a modern layout in which photographs and sketches are used with splendid effect, and with diversified reading matter which caters for all tastes, this all New Zealand annual should have a universal appeal. There are ten short stories, grave and gay, all by New Zealand writers, and it is interesting to know that included within its covers are contributions from three New Zealand writers who have had novels accepted overseas during the past twelve months. The literary standard is well maintained throughout its many pages, and the photographic section, included in which is a delightful full page picture by the wellknown amateur, George Chance, F.R.P.S., is much ahead of the standard of previous years. Altogether it is a production which does credit to those responsible for it.

RADIO RECORD ANNUAL, 1934. This year’s “Radio Record Annual,” a copy of which has just come to hand, dearly demonstrates that a great amount of thought and energy has gone into the compilation of a paper which combines the two purposes of keeping New Zealanders in touch with the goings-on of the broadcasting world and giving readers some little idea of the literary talent that the country possesses. One of the principal features is a series of pen sketches of men who are well-known on the New Zealan air —Dr Guy Seholefield, Professor Shelley, “Uncle Scrim,” Professor Maxwell Walker, Mr Clive Drummond (2YA’s announcer), Mr Leicester '"Webb and Mr J. T. Paul. The activities of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board are shown in a number of brightly-written articles, while stories written by Monti Tracy, Margaret Macpherson, Major-General Sir George Richardson, K.8.E., Lady Statham, Robin Hyde and Professor G. W. von Zcdlit are also prominently featured. The illustrations are noteworthy and include portraits of wellknown New Zealand girls, night scenes in several cities, and a special colour plate by M. Lynn Gernev.