BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Blastus, the King's Chamberlain : By W. T. Stead.— is the Rjview of Reviews Annual for 1396, being the first of a series of annuals instead of Christmas numbers. Mr. Stead says : —

The subject, the motive, the persons, are all more or less fixed for me by the progress of events; the framework in which they are embedded is, of course, pure fiction. But I should fail in the object of these stories if it were possible for anyone to read them through without gaining some insight into the salient features of the most important events of the year. 1895 was the year of the general election, and there can be no doubt as to who was the hero of that great electoral overture. There is much in Mr. Chamberlain's career from the first, and still more in his promise for the future, to make him a capital central figure for such an annual as this.

The whole story is a bitter satiro upon Mr. Chamberlain, some other notable political personages being introduced where necessary. The spirit) in which he sots about his task is very well exemplified in the opening passages:

"Blastus," said Sir Roland Beaton, " Blastus—Blast him! His name fits him very well, but 1 could suggest a better," "And what's that?" said his companion. " Dialobus !" said the other with emphasis, grinding his teeth as he spoke, his usual jovial features stiffening into a look suggestive of intense loathing, " Blastus is good, but it ought to have been Uialolus 1"

Mr. Stead seems to be of opinion that Mr. Chamberlain will yot return to his first love, and end by becoming tho leader of the Liberal party and Premier of England. Mr. Stead concludes his story as follows

And so it came to pass that Joseph Blastus, of Sandwicham, known in history as a greater Commoner than even William Pitt, became Prime Minister of the Liberal Administration, with Lord Adam as his Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and _ Lady Hermione as the President of the Ministry of Agriculture, with a seat in the Cabinet. And the first plank in the programme of the new Ministry was the declaration that for the servico of the State no one should be disqualified because of the Sect, the Sex, or the Section to which he or she might belong.

As Experiment in Marriage: By Clinrles J. Bellamy. William Hooves, 18"), Fleet-street, E.G.—We have received the above work from Mr. Metcalfe, bookseller. Tho romance is the story of a communistic settlement in Grape Valley, in one of the Western States of America, where the marital relations are of the most flexible character. The community is communistic, the children being cared for by the State, instead of the parents, and marriage only lasting so long as the contracting parties may determine. Tlio author puts into the mouth of one of his characters, Vinton, his own views on the marriage question "The faults of society are the faults of the souls and consciences belonging to the men and women who make up society. The relations of husbands to their wives, or of wives to their husbands, are so unsatisfying, so disappointing, because men and women do not cease to bo men and women and become angels when they marry. Marriage is no more, as it is no leass a failure than the other relations of mankind. Marriage is a failure because human nature is a failure." The description of affairs in Grape Valley is a strong contrast to that existing under orthodox marriage, bnt apparently liceneo is mistaken for liberty. As an ingenious disquisition on the marriage problem, the story is amusing reading. Grape Valley settlement is scarcely an Eden which anybody nood long to enter.

Tub National Review : Edward Arnold, 37, Bedford-street, Strand, London, W.U.—We have to hand the December number. The section, "Episodos of the Month" is a graphic review of currens events of interest to the Empire. There is a paper 011 "The Crisis in Religious Education," which is a plea for voluntary schools as supplementary to board schools. " Matthew Arnold in Hie Letters" is a sketch of that brilliant and gifted poet and essayist. Robert K. Douglas contributes i> paper on "Tho Greater Eastern Question;', the design of Russia upon China and Coroa. There is an instructive articio 011 " Investors and their Money," which shows how the British capitalist gets rid of his mouoy in foreign investments. Two thoughtful articles are given on "Child Distress and State Socialism," and " Our Military Problem." v Tho general articles are " A Groat Singer's. Last) Home," " A New Theory of Government," and "The Decline of Drunkenness."