LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13396, 26 January 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

Books about Royal personages are sometimes more stately than readable, but the Duke of Cambridge's Life has found many readers—so many that a second edition of it has already been called for.

It is understood that the interchange of opinion wincu was initiated with a view to ending the book war in London has borne no practical result. The negotiations, such as they were, have come to a standstill.

Captain Amundsen, the venturesome Norseman, who recently made the North West Passage, has prepared a book describing his experiences. It is based on some articles that he wrote at the time, and there will be an English edition of it.

Mr. Henry Leach has persuaded twentyfour golf champions to acquaint the public with the method's by which they have won pre-eminence in the game. The result is "Great Golfers in the Making," a. book which Messrs. Methuen are to publish.

"Geoffrey Darrell," a posthumous novel by Miss Adelaide Sergeant, will shortly appear with Messrs. Methuen. They are also publishing a story by a new writer, Mr. Ralph Bretherton. 'it is entitled "The Mill,'' and is a tale of middle-class life.

A pocket edition of Stevenson's " Dr. Jekyll and Air. Hyde" is to be published by Messrs. Longman. It will be remembered that .Stevenson sent the story to Longman's' Magazine. However, it was too long to print in one instalment, the desirable course witn such a tale. Accordingly, it was brought out in book form, and had an immediate success.

Mr. Fisher Unwin has good hope of a novel, entitled "The Sacrifice,'' which he will publish soon after Christinas. The author of it is Mr- Alphonse Courlander, who is already known for several stories of talent. This one is a realistic tale of life in a Wiltshire village, a study of the elemental passions. It preaches no moral, nor is it "written with a purpose."

Another volume—the seventh, covering the time January, 1901, to December. 1905 —of the " English Catalogue of Books" is ready, and will be welcomed. It is issued, of course, by the Publishers' Circular, and it reflects the. usefulness of that well-known trade journal. The English Catalogue" as a whole may be. said to include the titles of all books published in Great Britain during the last 70 years. It is thus a. record of Victorian literature and more than that.

Two new volumes will shortly lie added to the International Scientific Scries, which is now edited by Mr. K. Legge for Messrs. Kegan Paul. They arc both by French writers, and, indeed. French books on what may bo called the science of human nature lead the world. One volume treats of " Mind and Brain.'' and is by M. Binet, ■while another on "The Evolution of Modern Physics" is by M. Lucian Poineare, Several further books arc in preparation for the series.

Mrs. Baillie Reynolds, who has written one or two good novels, has a new story appearing with Messrs. Hutchinson. It is entitled "A Dull Girl's Destiny," and ii is altogether a novel of temperament. The story concerns the life of the modern mull and woman in London, and aims at showing the ultimate drift of one or two tendencies of the present day- a point of the book is that while, at times,.« circumstance is the touchstone of character, at other times it tends to conceal it.

A new illustrated edition of Joel Chandler Harris' "Nights with Uncle Remus" is forthcoming with the Do La. More Press. It has been illustrated by that delightful artist, Mr. J. A. Shepherd, who did the same service last year for the companion volume, " Uncle Remus."' Everybody is friendly—especially at Christmas—with Brer Rabbit. Brer Fox. and Brer Terrapin. Our master cartoonist.. Sir Francis Carruthens Gould, often utilises these animal characters to point the moral or adorn the tale of one of his picture studies in public affair-

A book nt hunting and shooting experiences by Mr. Hairy Storey is appearing with Messrs. 1/onginan. Tito author dedicates it to his mother, "to whom, I am afraid, my sporting proclivities have caused many an anxious hour."' He says in his preface:— I believe that Ceylon is still considered worthy to lie included in the sporting countries of the world, but, though most of the oilier countries arc well represented in literature, the fact remains that for fifty yeais the only complete hook dealing with personal experiences of <Vvlon sport is Si,- Samuel Baker's " With Rifle and Hound in ("evlon."'

The death, in his 90th vear. is announced of the Rev. Arthur Bell Nicholls, who was the husband of Charlotte Bronte, the famous novelist. .Mr. Nicholls, who died in Banagher, in the west of Ireland, survived his. wife by more than half a. century. He was of Scottish parentage. Graduating at Trinity College, Dublin, he went to Haworth in 1844 as curate under the R-ev. Patrick Bronte, and with but a slight interval.he remained tit Haworth until 1861. In "Shirley,' published in 1849. Charlotte Bronte wrote a flattering portraiture of Mr. Nicholls in the character of Mr. Macarthev, and evidently at that time she entertained a very high respect for him. She. describes Macarthcy as " decent, decorous, and conscientious," and goes on to say, " He laboured faithfully in the. parish. The circumstance of finding himself invited to tea with a Dissenter would unhinge him for a week. 'Hie spectacle of the Quaker wearing his hat in church, I lie thought of an unbaptised fellow-creature being interred with Christian rites -'tins- things could make. strange, havoc, in Mr. Maearthey's physical and mental economy. Otherwise he" was sane and rational, diligent and charitable." In 1852 Mr. Nicholls proposed marriage, but Mr. Bronte violently opposed aiiv such idea, and with his daughters fame ringing in his ears, lie thought she. should do better than many a curate, with £100 a year. Apparently Charlotte herself entertained for him no very deep feelings. Mr. Nicholls being refused, left Haworth, but about 12 months later he returned to Haworth. at Mr. Bronte's invitation, as the- accepted suitor of Charlotte. The wedding was celebrated at. the little country church at Haworth, on dune. 29. 1864, but Charlotte Bronte died in the following March.

Mr. Holman Hunt, in the course of an address at the opening of an exhibition of his pictures at Manchester, alluded to the suggestion which has been made thai "The Laxly of Slialott" was not painted bv him. Mr. Holman Hum said he could" bring many witnesses lo show that ho begun it 15 years ago. Sir John Milhtis and Sir Edward Burue-Joncs both saw it when it was partially advanced. When his great defect of eyesight came to him he could still (see —as lie could now—well enough to distinguish the different hues of ivory colour on the palette close to his eyes, and could also tell the form of tilings if he. looked at them singly. He could (still see enough to enable him to act as an overseer and to direct men working under him! After the difficulty began to show itself ho found it desirable to get an assistant, as he wanted always to be sure that his paints had blended before they dried. The goutleman lie selected to enable him to finish the picture was Mr. Kdward It. Hughes, a member of the Royal Water-colour .Society, who was excellently suited for the work. Mi'. Holman Hunt said the proposal to purchase the picture for the nation had come from people outside, and though he should be proud to see the purchase carried out, he hoped that no one would support the purchase with the idea of obliging him. The " Lady of Slialott" was the last work of the great painter, and was his main labour at intervals for the past 15 years. The, picture was recently placed on exhibition at the Leicester Galleries, Leicester Square. and an influential committee was formed for the purpose of raising the 7000 guineas required for the canvas, so that it might become a national possession. It was only during the last year of his work that Mr. Hunt's eyesight began to fail. The artist will be 80 years of age this year. His first picture, was exhibited in the Academy 60 years ago.