BOOKS... By “Caxton” Voice Of America

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 8

800K5... By “Caxton” Voice Of America

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (Heinemann), received, on its recent publication, the double distinction of being the London “Evening Standard's" book choice, and, also, the Book Society’s selection for the month. In addition it was mentioned with unusual enthusiasm in a broadcast from the London 8.8. C. station by Alexander Woollcott who said it was difficult, in dealing with the large and tumultuous American republic, to use the expression, “An American Voice." There is no one, he said, wno can be called “the American voice.” A few voices rise above the confused

and confusing chorus. One is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s. Another—listen to it, is the voice of John Steinbeck." It is interesting to notice the number of book titles lately that are derived from the poets, small and great, with Shakespeare in the lead. I wonder how many people can name the poem—a battle ‘hymn really—from which Steinbeck took the title of his new book. Woollcott described “Grapes of Wrath” as the American Les Missrables. Very great praise indeed. It is a story of some Oklahoma farmers who had got down and nearly out in fhe backblocks of a struggle to live. They pulled up their few roots and set out for California. It is a vivid account of a migration so detailed, so hazardous, so heroic, so thrilling that one is not surprised to learn that the book is making record sales, that everyone who can buy or borrow .a copy is reading it, and contracts are being rushed through in half a dozen different translations.

COMING. Some years ago I commenced a notebook on the wisdom of living, according to Shakespeare, and began to collect his sayings on the main problems in the management of life. It proved amazingly interesting. As it grew I was astonished at the insight and enlightening good sense with which Shakespeare touched on .almost every problem that confronts one in the course of life’s experience. It began to look like a possibly useful book that would give uncommon pleasure to many besides myself. But there were others, better than myself, in the field. The Ages of Man: Shakespeare’s Image of Man and, 1 Nature, by George Rylands (Heinemann, 7/6) has just been published. I have not seen the book, but look eagerly for its arrival. Meantime a London review awakens a keen appetite for its enjoyment. It does just what I had attempted, .and it will be a pleasure to review it, with extracts as soon as it comes to hand. NO MORE PILES ! Xann relieves this distressing: complaint. Rasy to apply. Trial treatment for 9d stamps.—Xann Proprietary, Box 952 A, Wellington. Z 1

TYURING the week a very estimable * lady, who has lived in retirement for the best part of the past year, returned to duty in order to allow her successor to visit Waitangi. This led to a very interesting talk with an old member of the staff with whom she had been acquainted previously. It hinged upon a number of psychological factors which .are often overlooked or disregarded. "When I recorded a payment on the cash register,” she said, “I could not believe that 1 had not been doing that every day, while the premises generally, and the people in it, seemed to be just ,as they were before, and I found it difficult to believe that I had been away.” » jJ: # “VyLLL,” was the reply, “I wouldn't ’ like you fo think that you had not been missed, but, to tell you the Truth, I, like you, found it hard to ! believe that you have been .away. You seemed to fit in exactly as you used to do, and your ringing of the cash register heightened the illusions that you had been here continuously." “I wonder if you have all spoken as kindly of me in my absence as you did in my presence that 'time I was with you every day?” “Sure thing,” I replied. I might have added, “when we thought of you at all.” but that would have been unkind. It would, however, have been only the expression of a fact, for it is a sad reflection that the memories of those whe .are not personally bereaved by the disappearance of a loved one are very short, while the temporary absence of a living individual is noticed mainly by those to whom the absence means added responsibility. >:« * n* * rpHIS reveals a curious trait in the human make-up, and, at the same time, puts in a bright light the hypocrisy so many of us are ready to practice in order to be conventionally polite. Tell a man that another has died, and he will in nine cases out of ten be regaled with a recital of the deceased’s character which would convey the impression that when the man died the world lost its only great .and godd citizen. I