Book Chit Chat.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 988, 11 June 1919, Page 29

Book Chit Chat.

By The Worm

A NOVELIST of great power and brilliance has burst upon the English-speaking world. He is Vicente Blasco Ibanez, a Spanish writer, whose books have been translated into the leading European languages and are going off like hot cakes. He gives you a panorama of- modern Spanisih life, as vivid as a cinema show. In "The Cabin" you are introduced to rural Spain. "The Shadow of the Cathedral" impresses you with the hold the Church has upon the people. "The Dead- Command" brings into violent contrast the shabby magnificence of a once great family and the life of the peasantry. The latest novel "Blood and Sand" has already reached New Zealand in the form of a cheap translation called "The Matador," and is attaining great vogue. It takes you behind the scenes in the bull-ring and also shows you . Spain's national hero —the successful toreador—"the best man in the world" as his barrackers proudly style him —both in his private life and in those purple patches of his life when he is performing in the arena. The story grips you from the start and the types of character are well drawn. It unfolds, to you the career of a typical toreador from his apprentice days' when he was playing truant from the cobbler' s. shop in order ' 'to throw a cloak" before the oxen to the achievement of his ambition as a leading torero, earning a princely salary, the darling of the populace. • He is. led into an intrigue with a gi'eat lady (Dona Sol) ; for. whom he neglects his youthful wife. Dona Sol jilts him at last, an accident in ; the ring weakens his confidence as a torero, hi.s popularity wanes, and in his last fight, which 'is strongly featured, he losea his life. . * * *. * Ibanez is certainly a great writer. Other books from his pen are "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and a collection of short stories under the title " Luna Bonanior." Ibanez has been _ in gaol about a score -of times for his radical republicanism. * * "The All Highest Goes to Jerusalem" (London: Stanley Paul and Co.) —This' skit is translated from "Le Rire" (the Parisian Punch") and purports to be the diary of Kaiser-Bill's journey to the ..Holy . Land, .nearly 20 years ago; It was first published soon after. Bill's return home _from what he pompously his. ' 'divine mission" and sent" the 'whble~"F fettch' nation into fits of.jlaughter. Of course, the French Government had to make a pretended attempt to suppress the issue'. Its interest at this present time lies in the witty author's prophetic vision. The illustrations are very lively, and hit off Bill's foibles most "humorously. .V « S n "Degenerate Germany," by Henry De Halsalle (Melbourne: "The Specialty Press Pty., Ltd., by arrangement with T. Werner Laurie., Ltd., of London). This is a cheap Australasian edition, of a remarkable book: It is a damning. indictment of the Germans as a degenerate race and the author excuses the unwholesome facts he cites by stating, that they will be. of value "in combating the/ preposterous and dangerous peace views that are held in variousi quarters." The Germans are traced from early times and are shown

to have always been a particularly bad lot, excelling in all kinds of vice and gross immorality. And the Prussian variety is by far the worst and most contemptible. * * * * "Hearts Courageous," by John Oxenham (liondon: Methuen and Co.). This is a companion volume to the same melodious poet's* "Visioji,- Splendid." It is now published in such cheap popular form that the poorest can afford to have, a copy. It is a book of war 'lyrics, all in the serious vein and it isi inscribed "To the undecorated dead and living who gained no recognition in this world." * * * * Our Major-General Murray has evidently read and admired Oxenham. In his speech at his recent reception in the Wellington Town Hall lie referred to *'The Valley of Decision" which is the title of one of Qxenham's poems. * * * # "The Years Between." This publication of a new volume of verse by Rudyard Kipling, the real poet lau r reate of the British Empire, is ah event of the highest importance. He is our greatest living poet. This volume opens with "The Rowers" which was Kipling's bitter protest against the use of the British Fleet in 1892 for a naval demonstration in alliance with Germany against Venezuela. It is curious to note that so long ago as seventeen years Kipling denounced "the shameless Hun." Here is another sample of the poet's prophetic .vision in 1902: — First to face the Truth and last to leave old Truths behind— France, beloved of every soul that loves and serves its kind! Another poem is "For all we have and are," written in 1914 when England realised that she was fighting with her back to the wall. The tribute to Lord Roberts is admirably done:— Clean,, simple, valiant, well-beloved, Flawless in faith and frame, Whom neither ease nor honours moved An hair's breadth from his aim. Never again the war-wise face, The weighed and urgent word That pleaded in the market-place— Pleaded and was-, not heard! Yet from his life "a new life springs Through all. the hosts "to come, And Glory is the last of things That follow this man home. "The Years Between" takes its name from a group of some 30 epitaphs ranging in length from a -distich to a dozen lines. Bv all means get this . book _of Kipling's . latest verse. It will stir your pulses. * * * * * I -have just received Messrs. Methuen and Co. Ltd's Spring list of new books, and, glancing over it casually, my eye lights on " 'A New Heaven,' by the Hon.. George Warren. Russell (New Zealand Minister - of ! "Internal- Affairs and Public Health." No, it has no reference apparently to town planning for the circular goes on to say that Mr Russell's book tells of life after death a,nd maintains that it is one of intellectual activity.