BOOK NOTES

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 13, 23 August 1928, Page 2

BOOK NOTES

(By "Observer.")

Emil Ludwig, whose books on 3STapolean, Bismarck, • and the e?.-Kaiser Wilhelm have been so popular with English readers has a new bock ready for publication. This will be a study of Goethe, perhaps the greatest of all Germans. C^oethe is little more than a name to most people, but Ludwig has made him human, and vindicates his genius. Lovers of mystery stories will find plenty of excitement in the latest issue of novels published by Methven and Co. Charles Barry is represented'with "The Corpse on the Bridge"; Augustus Muir by '' The Shadow on the Left"; and Herbert Adams with "The Empty Bed." All these authors are first-class storytellers. * * * # It will interest Girl Guides pnd those interested in the movement to learn that Basil Blaekwell will publish shortly a succession to " The First Trail. '' The new book will be called "The Second Trail." H.E.H. the Duchess of York, has written a Foreword and has kindly consented to allow a new photograph of herself to appear as the Frontispiece. There will' also be a contribution by the Chief Scout, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, illustrated by hintr self. * * -s? * "The Tents of Shame" by Edward Charles Reed tells the stery "of Julia, Lady Spahlmann, unhappily married to a noted financier whom she detests. She had a lover, Brian Drewry. He inherits not only the baronetcy but the fortune of Sir Will^'" 1 Drewry. whose only daughter, Barabara, he has disinherited by a will made after a quarrel. This will, however, hps been invalidated by r later ono. Thi,s fact is only known to Graham Fothere:ill, the solicitor, who lias =nr>pro«ped. the ■will in the hope fiat thinking herself poor, Barbara may look more favourably on his suit. By this means lie hopes to make himself master of the Drewry Estates. Brian goes to visit the place and immediately falls in love with Barbara. On Ms to*turn Jtrlia detects at once the change in his attitude and finds out the cause. At the same time her husband begins to take a cource of special mineral waters for an internal complaint. She learns that these contain a high percentage of arsenic. Shortly afterwards her husband dies from arsenical poisoning and Julia is arrested. The denouement is worked-out with extraordinary skill and the story fascinates from beginning to end. John Long is the publisher. * * ■ * * • "The Runagates Club" is the title of John Buchan's new book which Hodder and Stoughton have just published. The new volume is a record of the stories told at the Runagates Club, a group of fifteen men who had queer tasks during the war. Among the members are old friends like Richard Hanney, Lord Lamaneha, and Sandy Arbuthnot. One or two of the chapters deal with war experiences, but the collection covers a wide area, both geographical and spiritual. All are stories of adventure, whether of the mind or the body. * # * * Miss O. Douglas who is a; sister of John Buchan 's and •whose books are not less popular than her distinguished brother's, has also written a new story which.has just been published by Hodder and Stoughton. "Eliza for Common ' ' like Miss Douglas 'g earlier books is a story of modern Scottish life. It is a study in temperament, of a girl ■who begins with revolt against her environment and ends by the appreciation, and acceptance of it which comes from increased wisdom and humanity. The story is laid in Scotland, both city and country, in Oxford, and in London, and a host of delightful characters fill the different stages. * * * *. Publishers are like most other people, in that they often err in their judgment of books which are submitted to them with a view to publication. Many books which have ultimately become best sellers have been rejected by publishers as being unworthy of publication. On the other hand books which have been acclaimed as great discoveries by their publishers have been coldly received .by the public. Hodder and Stoughton hav-e just published a novel called "Juggernaut" by Alice Campbell which they consider to. be one of the most remarkable first novels that has ever come to their notice. They claim that they have introduced a "startling new author to the reading

public." Time will soon tell whether the public agrees with them or not. The story deals with -the strange experiences of a nurse employed by an English family living in the South of France, and although it reaches such dramatic intensity, the logical procession of incidents, in a setting of outward normality lends it an air of reality which is so often missing in the realm of books. It is this attribute, coupled with the author's ability to make her characters live the atmqsphere which she infuses into her work. It is a story to be read for its plot, and re-read rather more leisurely for the "something" that makes it "different" frjom most other novels.