A DEVE INTO THE BOOK-BAG

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 April 1935, Page 14

A DEVE INTO THE BOOK-BAG

In Robert Lynd’s opinion it is better to find a number of books re-read-able and to read tjic.m again and again than to find everything readable and to read nothing more than once. • * * * •

Everyone is familiar with Sherlock Holmes’ lean- and keen features—thanks to the drawings of the late Mr Sidney Paget. The model for Holmes —the artist’s brother, Mr Wal Paget —died recently, aged 72. He was a distinguished black-and-white' artist himself.

The Belgian nation’s memorial to the late King Albert is to take the form of a. National Library called the BibliotheqUe Albertine. The estimated cost is £1,500,000. * * * * *

The list of best-selling translations in Hungary furnishes curious contrasts, says the .Budapest correspondent of the “Observer.” Edgar Wallace,. who keeps the place of leading seller, is followed by Geothe, Virgil, the Bible, and Homer. * *• * * *

Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, author of “I Worked for the Soviet,” is a daughter of Leo Tolstoy. She was in command of a hospital unit on the Eastern Front when the Russian Revolution broke out in 1917. ■ # . * * * *

“Samuel Butler: A Chronicle and an Introduction,” bv Da\ R> F. Rattray, will he published by Duckworth in ample time for the centenary of Butler’s birth, which falls in December. Dr. Rattray, whose short book is tooth a biographical study and an essay on the writings, has been able to include a considerable amount. of new material relating to Butler’s life. * * * * *

The year 1935 marks the fourth centenary of the appearance in print of the first complete Bible in EnglishThis was Coverdale’s translation of 1535 sometimes known as The Treacle Bible ion account of the rendering “Is there no treacle in Gilead.” The Bug Bible is another name for it, from the translation in the Psalms, “Thou shalt not nede to bo afrayed for eny bugges by night,” though it is at the “treacle” rendering a copy lies open in the church of Minster in Kent.

Budding authors in New Zealand please note. According to Cecil Palmer, the publisher, the average active life of a. novel, excluding those written by established authors, is between three and six months. The sale of such a novel is frequently as little as 1000 copies, and seldom exceeds 20Q0Mr Palmer estimates that at least 75 per cent, of this total represents purchases made toy the rental libraries, and that a novel of which 2000 copies are sold has about 30,000 readers. * * * * *

There were 1158 books published in Great Britain in January s 1935. In the same month last year there were 966 books published. ,At the end of the first month, therefore, this year sees an increase over last year’s figures by nearly 200 hooks. This is the first year in which the January output has exceeded IQOO books. According to the president of the American National Association of Book Publisheis, the sales of books in the United States in 1934 were from 10 to 20 per cent. better than in 1933. * * * * *

Edison, (says the “Bookseller”) made many experiments to substitute nickel for paper. He held that paper is too expensive for printing. Moreover, it cannot, be disinfected, and as it is perishable, immortal works may be lost. Nickel books wiculd be wry cheap and conveniently thin. A thous-and-page book' would be less than onefortieth of an inch thick. And they could be disinfected. But the very thinness of nickel leaves makes them awkward to turn over; and they are apt to out the reader’s hands. Scientists are accordingly trying to find an alloy that would revolutionise the book world. * * - * *

“S. S. Van Dine” (Mr. Willard Huntingdon Wright), the American author of “thrillers,” has won a libel action brought against him for inadvertently using the name of an actual person in one of his books. £IOO,OOO damages were claimed.

PRE-HITLER BERLIN. A weak, cunning, but educated young man spends a fortune in gay company in two years. By borrowing and continued extravagance he piles up debts, and finding blackmail easy and profitable adopts it as a profession. Ultimately lie goes to prison, for IS months, and England being now “unhealthy,” he goes to Berlin two years before Hitler comes into power. A teacher of English (who writes the story) meets him in the train. They become friends. “Mr Morris ■Changes Trains,” by Chris. Isherwood (Hogarth Press) relates the history of a number of debased and criminal people who seem unaware lof their badness and are often pleasantly companionable. The spendthrift and blackmailer engages a man servant to assist in his evil scheme, and soon the servant is master. Morris drags the teacher into very bad company and also- into assisting the communists. Berlin at- this time is a city of disorder and civil discord, spying and murder. Morris is blackmailer, fraudulent merchant and paid spy. Among his new friends are Otto the boxer and bully, who “protects” Olga the procuress, and Annie the prostitute; the baron who .sells Government secrets, and many communist agents. Morris is blackmailed .by his supposed -servant-, worried by his crowding creditors, watched by the police, deceived and defrauded by his spy employers, bu 4 t enjoys himself in spirits by spending every mark he gains and keeping friends with prostitutes, communists and night club habitues. The whole story is told in a gently humorous vein, inviting sympathy for the “down and outs” and the not .so very sinful sinners.