LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12853, 29 April 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

" Canon 1 Shehhan," the author of "My New Curate," lias a novel, "Glenanaar," appearing with Messrs. Longman. An English translation of a novel which has had a great success on the Continent— Gustav Frenssen's " John. Uhl"—is shortly to be published by Messrs. Constable. Messrs. Longman are to publish an Architects' Library under „he editorship of Professor Simpson. It will be a complete work of reference for architects, and a practical hand-book for students. . A new dialect dictionary of English words is being prepared by Professor Wright. He is being assisted by 600 contributors. The work will be ready in 1905, and will contain 100,000 words, Yorkshire alone contributing 20,000. "The Imitation of Christ" and " Lyra Gcrmauiea" will be the first volumes of a new devotional series which Messrs. Newues are starting. The plan is to give reprints of books many of them classics which have endeared themselves to Christians without distinction of sect. Mr. Fisher Unwin. has published a novel by Miss Florence Roosevelt, a hist cousin of the President of the United States, to whom it is dedicated. The story is one of Bohemian life in Paris, and tells of the adventures, failures, and achievements of girls studying for an operatic career. The second volume of Mr. Davenport Adams' Dictionary of the Drama" is being seen through the press by his sister. He had collected all the material for it, and she had assisted him with the work generally. To merely print the volume, however, will take some time, and it need not be expected until the summer. A couple of novels, which are very different in their subjects-, were published in March by Messrs. Chapman. One, by Miss Nellie K. Blissett, is a romantic story of the time of Charles IT. The other is a story based on years of acquaintance, with Chinese life and customs. It is by Mr. Oliver (J. Ready, and has the title " Chun' Qwang."

Mr. Ernest Thompson Solon has long been known as a. writer on natural history. Recently his books have, bffen finding an Increased number of readers. He has a new volume preparing with Messrs. Constable, who hope to publish it soon. It is the story of a bear of the Hoc Icy Mountains, from its cubhood to its grave, Mr. .Seton calls the beast Monarch, and si. also the book is named.

Mr. «J. S. Fletcher is host known as a writer on natural history subjects, but lie is also tile author of some good fiction. His story. " The Paths of the Prudent," will he remembered, and now lie has finished another comedy ol rustic life, and called it "({rand Relations." Its mimics are laid in a Yorkshire village, and the characters are all studies of real personalities. Whether tit* fact has made or marred them depends, of course, upon Mr. Fletcher.

Mr. -Aylmer Maude has written a history of that remarkable people the Doukhobors, and Messrs. Constable are to publish it. lie relates from what circumstances they sprang as a body, and describes their attitude to the affairs of the world. 4,, few years ago they left Russia for Canada, where the Government granted them land. At first they were a little troublesome, to themselves as well as to others, but they have now settled down to prosperity.

Mr. Edward X(Vole's new story strikes what is perh;t"s a fresh note in sea-fiction, for it is.largely a study of temperament. It is about a captain of a sailing vessel who loses his nerve and his ship. Then comes the Board of Trade inquiry, which Mr. Noble contrives to make human, and not merely legal. The praise given to Mr. Noble's first story, '"The Edge of Circumstance," will ensure a welcome for "The Waves of Fate." which Messrs. Blackwood will also publish.

Several books of American memoirs have appeared recently, and some of them, at all events, have been read. Another 0110 is to he published by Mr. llciueniaun under the title "A Diarv from Dixie.'' It was written by the wife of Senator Chosnut, who became a. brigadier-general in the Confederate army. The "Diary" gives vivid pictures of lie social life that went on without interruption in the midst of the war. There are many anecdotes of Confederate leader; - , like General Lee and " Stonewall" Jackson.

Miss Braddon is so sure of her readers that a story by her is always welcomed by the nookscllers. She has one coining out with Messrs. Hutchinson under the title "The Rose of Life." It is a modern romance, •' story of good and bad society, with a heroine as innocent and as charming as Goethe's Gretchcii. The book has glimpses of the trivial life of it Loudon season, and there is more than a glimpse of literary life, in the j>erson of a poet, whose fate is the tragedy of a story which, for the rest, ends happily.

Abbotsford, created by Sir Walter Scott out of magic ink, is a Mecca which attracts pilgrims in increasing numbers every year. To them a colour 'book that Messrs. Black announce will be specially welcome. It will also appeal to the far greater number who, although they know Abbotsford as a household word, can scarcely hope to behold it with their own eyes. Mr. William Smith has done the drawings for the book, and the text is by the Rev. W. S. Crockett.

How- did France, as i! was 83 years ago, strike an English girl? The answer will be round in a book which 31 r. Murray will now have ready on an early date. * The writer was Miss Mary Browne who, >vitli her father, niothei. and live brothers and sisters*, went to France in the summer of 1821. They travelled slowly, in two of their own carnages, and .Miss" Browne kept a frank, observant diary of their experiences and impressions. She even illustrated it with quaint drawings, some of which are being reproduced.

"An Angler's Hours'' is the title of a book which Messrs. Macmillan will publish shortly. The writer of it is Mr. H. T. Slieiingliaai, who has lecentlv been appoint* ed angling editor of the Field. He is keenly interested in every brunch of angling, arid' his sketches are meant to appeal alike to bottom-fishers and tly-fishers. They aro light and humorous ill vein, 'but they also contain many practical hints on the gentle sport. Mr. Shcringliam was the author, with Mr. Nevill Meakin, of .t humorous phantasy which appeared last year.

A book on the Sudan, which Mr. Murray will publish before long, is dedicated to Lord Kitchener. Apart from itc general account of the country, there are two points upon which the author, Mr. John Ward, lavs special stress:—"One is the great fertility of the soil, which, with proper cultivation and with the aid of irrigation, may be made to produce abundant crops, ami enough cotton for all British needs. The other is the existence in the country of extensive ruins of cities and temples—and, indeed, of churches—for there is no doubt that at one time there was a Christian population in the Sudan—which are likely to afford occupation for the archaeologist for many years to come, and are calculated to attract the tourist and the artist in everincreasing numbers."

Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson lias prepared an edition of her distinguished husband's books, to which she has added' introductions and notes, giving all the gist of her wide and intimate knowledge of his methods of work and the relation between his life and his writings. No one could be better qualified for such a task. Mrs. Stevenson was not only Stevenson's active collaborator in one book —made lip from lie stories which she composed for his amusement during a dangerous attack of illness which reduced him to temporary inactivity—but, as Mr. L'olvin says, the most shrewd and stimulating critic of his work." Mr. Thomas Stevenson realised this so fully that shortly before his death ho made his soil promise that he would 1 " never publish anything without Fanny's approval."