Book Reviews

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 21, 1 November 1939, Page 7

Book Reviews

Kathleen Wallace's new novel, "Their Chimneys Into Spires" uas its setting in England during the crisis of September, 1939. The author introduces us to many charming and interesting people: the gay young married couple who lead a harid-to-mouth existence in a Lon don mews, the. writer whose fears are ■ for his lovely wife and two small sons, the Government orncial on furlough from China, who faces a war-time parting from his sons when he resumes his duties, the lone ly old couple who lost three sons in the Great War," the girl who is in love with an airman and the little charwoman from Wales. How all these people prepare for the war they believe is imminent, their relief when at the last minute catastrophe is averted, their growing anxiety as it is realized that the , peace won at Munich cannot be lasting, and their gradual stiffening as they achieve the new technique of facing the more- uncertain life of these days is told in "a human, symi pathetic manner, which makes an [immediate appeal to the reader who thinks of national catastrophes in terms of human lives and happiness. ' * In the preface to his book "Answer to Hitler,". Evan John declares it is writen by an ordinary man and addressed to the millions of other ordinary men who amid the tumult lof conflicting nations are daily I forming their own opinions from the reading of newspapers, from con versations with their friends and from their own common sense.

Realizing that Hitler is the most important single personality in Europe to-day, the author deals at length with the celebrated "Meln Kampf," tracing the development of the character of its author and crystallizing its doctrine to throw light upon the present state and future prospects of Europe. Problems of race, creed, armaments, past allegiances, refugees, colonies perfidy and democracy—in fact all those topics which ~ave been pondered and discussed so much during the last decade —are dealt with in a capable, straightforward manner, which is most acceptable to the average thinking person. Many books have been written on each and all of these subjects, but it is refreshing to find one which deal with them all, and their significance as a whole, as com petently and yet as simply as does ''Answer to Hitler." Ann, the heroine of "The Rise of Ann Parnet," by Michael Foster, is the daughter of parents who perform a vaudeville act in a secondrate touring theatrical company. After his wife's death, Ann's father, William Henry, marries again and leaves the theatre. Later, how ever, he and his daughter run away from his second wife and the rough home she has made for them, to go back to the stage. The early chapters give a vivid picture of theatrical life in the small backwood towns through which William Henry struts and gesticulates in' a pathetic refusal to admit the end of his Aind and his traditions. Jafcies Fraser, a wealthy old man with a love for the theatre as he knew it in his youth, sees that Ann has talent, and she is sent to a dramatic school in New York for training. After years of study, work and disappointments, at last Ann finds fame and love as well as success when she reaches the top of the ladder. Set against many backgrounds, and crowded with characters iiie Rise of Ann Parnet" has abundant life, colouring and movement, and should appeal to a wide public.