LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

A second edition of Mr. Swinburne's novel; has already been called for. It seems, owing to the immense mass of material that has to be dealt with, the work containing a' selection of Queen Victoria's letters need not be expected until the beginning of next year. "The Mother Light" is an anonymous novel which Messrs. Hutchinson .are to issue ; while Mr. Andrew Melrose announces H. new story by Mr. G. 13. Lancaster, the author of " Sons o' Men." Mr. Irving Hancock's final. elaborate book on Jiu-Jitsu is now about to appear with Messrs. Putnam'. In preparing it Mr. Hancock has had the co-operation of a Japanese expert, Mr. Katsukuma Higashi. Mr. Thomas Graham Jackson, 11. A,, is the author of a book, ".Reason in Architecture," which Mr. Murray announces. It explains the development of the architectural styles of modern Europe by tracing them to natural and social causes. The Bishop of ■ Durham, Dr. Handley Motile, who is lying seriously ill at Bishop Auckland, is one of the most notable of present-day prelates. He is the son of that saintly old clergyman who, under the name of Clare, figures so prominently in "Toes of the D'Urbervilles." A new book by Mr. Stopford Brooke is always welcome, and a volume will appear in the autumn with Messrs. Isbister. It consists of studies of (lie poetry of Matthew Arnold, Clougli, Rossetti, and William Morris. It will be a companion, volume to those on Tennyson and Browning, which Mr. Stopford Brooke has already written. One of the successful " first novels" of last year was Mr. \Y. B. Maxwell's "The. Bagged Messenger.'' lie is to follow it with a. story called " Vivien," which Messrs. Meth'uen announce. This is the story of a gill's life studied with a closeness that is, perhaps, both unusual and original. The young novelist is, of course, a sou of Mrs. Maxwell, whom every leader knows as Miss Braddon.

The India Office is to issue a. series of records dealing with the great Dependency. The first three volumes will contain a. selection of public and private papers on the affairs of the British in Bengal at the middle of (he eighteenth century. They will have an historical introduction by -Mr. S. 0. Hill, the officer in charge of the records of (he Indian Government, and will bo published by Mr. Murray.

Mr. Rider Haggard's report on the Salvation Army colonies in Essex and in America will promptly be issued by Messrs. Longman us a book, It will be illustrated with photographs, taken by Miss Angela Rider Haggard, who acted as her father's private, secretary during his journey, lie has added to his report, an introduction, in which he deals with the subject, generally, and replies to certain points that have been advanced against his scheme.

A book which should be of special value to yachtsmen, sailors, travellers, and artists will shortly be published by Mr. Murray. It i.i entitled "Mast and Naii in Europe and Asia," and is by Mr. Warinjslon Smyth, the secretary of the Transvaal Mines Department. He has had exceptional opportunities of studying sailing boats and the practical use of them. At present there is no book which does what this one doe.-—-de-scribes and classifies sailing boats. Another motor novel. It is by Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, and they entitle it " My Friend the Chauffeur." The hero is a young Englishman who lias lost everything at Monte- Carlo except his courage and his motor-car. He undertakes to conduct parlies of ladies on aiv excursion through Europe, using his motor for the purpose. A party of American ladies ..ccept the venture and the party start on a (our which takes them from the Riviera to Montenegro. Two men eminent in the-English Church, Iho Bishop of Stepney and Canon Knox Little, have books appearing with Messrs. Isbislcr in the autumn. Dr. Lang's volume is a study of "The Parables of Jesus," and 60 a similar work to his " Miracles of Jesus," of which some 10,000 copies have been sold. Canon Knox Little's work deals with the present position of the Anglican Church, a j subject on which lie holds decided views. i II will very likely excite some controversy.

Dr. Finders Petrie has, written a book giving tin account of the, recent discoveries in Sinai. The expedition, with a large working party, lived in the desert, and carried on excavations for some mouths. The only tempio known for Semitic worship was fully explored, and in this volume is illustrated in detail. The conditions of the Exodus are discussed, with a new view of the Israelite census, and the life of the Bedouin of Sinai and the Egyptian desertis noticed.

Rumour goes that the Queen lias written an account of her recent cruise in the Mediterranean. Her Majesty's journal, if printed and published at all, will be issued for the perusal of the Royal family and their most intimate friends only. There is precedent enough to encourage. a hope that the work will, later, gain wider fame by publication for the world at large. Were not Queen Victoria's diaries of her life in the Highlands first intended for private circulation only?

A novel by Bernard Capes appears with Messrs. Methuen—"A Jay of Italy." The cruelty, horror, and vivid decadence of the court of Galea/.zo Sforza, the pre-Rcnais-sancc tyrant of Milan, are used by Mr. Capes for background for a, simple figure. This is a boy, bright and inspired, between Eros and Christ, who, being " called" of his imagination to restore tho kingdom of love, and to reinstate, disengaged from dogma, the human Cod, does, for a time, by sheer force of sweetness, prevail, until fashion wearying and interest waning he finds a piteous martyrdom.

It is always said that. Mrs. Norton was 1 tile real " Diana of the Crossways," and so she is regarded in a volume which is nearly > ready with Messrs. Constable. It concerns i " Some Women of Wit and Beauty," and is . written by Mr, John Fyvie. Mrs. Fifczi Herbert, Nelson's Lady Hamilton, " Mrs. f Montagu and Lady Blessington all figure ; in the volume. So do Lady Eastlako and , Mrs. Grotc, who were political ladies— ' different sides the last generation. Nail tura-Ily, with pen portraits of beautiful and , witty women, there go illustrations. Books on electricity grow in number, as . is natural having regard to the way in - which the science of electricity goes ahead'. . To the series of volumes which they publish ,- Messrs. Harper an; about to add another t on "Electric Traction.'' It is by Professor ■ Robert H. Smith, and while it is primarily 1 designed for the instruction of students, it . is intended to interest and serve all who are engaged in the work of electric fraction. i The author expresses the hope that one i special feature may be regarded as a merit; ) namely, that it deals with "commercial > results ami economic conditions." t f Mr. Israel Zaugwill's book, "Children of the Ghetto," has been, translated into Yidiv dish for publication in the Jewish Jour- '.' nal, a. new halfpenny daily paper issued e ; in London. Here, as Mr. Zangwill reg marks, the volume undergoes an exceptional 1 fate:—"For while most books, when transit, hited, are translated into a. foreign tongue, o this book is really translated into its own tongue, because, in the .spiritual sense of ii the words, Yiddish is the language ill which ,s it was really conceived, and I had great s difficulty in translating Yiddish ideas and e expressions into phrases which Englishmen s could understand." t I It was an idea certainly to issue a book •-1 about cricket at lid—even if it be lid net. Tho volume came out on the 11th of July's with Mr. Fisher Unwin, under the title, i- "Cricket on the Brain." It is in the is "wisdom while you wait" vein, as, indeed, ib some lines of verse on the title-page might 3 j indicate— > rt Let the season be dry or be wet, ' r ; All minds on elevens are set; 3. ! So we don't ask a 'nob , s ! For this excellent job— j ' Its price is elevenpence net. And there is an assortment of illustrations.