LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 6 July 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

Mrs. B.ullie Reynolds has a new novel —a story :of ;, temperament—appearing with Messrs. "Hutchinson, » ; : '■','&' Dull a Girl's Destiny.''; .r' v.': V"-'"'''" "'i" " , - : '"" : "

A new volume of verse, principally devoted to Nature, by Alec Joy," entitled " Wayside Verses," will' be published immediately by Mr. Eliot "Stock.- ~-"

Mr. Havelock Ellis is writing introductions to Lewes' "Life of Goethe'i and Goethe's "Conversations with Eckerman - ' for the Everyman Library. The "Life of Goethe'' for a; shilling will be a wonderfully cheap book. \» -

The first volume in the Shakespere Library, which Messrs. Chatto and Windus are publishing, ■> will -be ready very .soon. It is Lodge's "Rosalynde," the original of Shakespere's "As You Like It." The volume •lias- been edited by Mr. W. \Y Grieg. . • ._ . ■ , . /

Mr. Gj.aham.jyalias has written an introduction for ail edition of Raskin's " Two Paths," which is being added to Cassell's National Library. It. already includes Raskin's Unto . This . Lust," and other works by him are likely to be given. " Two Paths" will be the 110 th volume of the National Library in its new form.

The Hon. Walter Rothschild's book on " Extinct Birds" is nearly ready with Messrs. Hutchinson. The edition will be very limited, and many of the copies have been ordered in advance, although the price of each is £25 net. But then this will be one of the most luxurious books ever published, and it is'being printed on imperishable paper. ';■,:s:''•''.

Mr. J. Ellard Gore puts forth a volume of "Astronomical Essays.; Historical and Descriptive." The contents are extremely varied. Some refer to astronomy in primitive times, theories of Greek and Chinese writers, and the age of Ptolemy. Others, again, treat of the newest advances in the science of stellar astronomy. -Chat-to and Windus are the publishers.

Since he retired from the great position of Foreign Secretary, M. Hanotaux lias practically been devoting himself to his "History of Contemporary France." It is to be completed in four volumes, lof which two have already been published',, in English by Messrs. Constable. Now they announce that the third volume, covering the period 1874 to 1875, is almost ready for publication.

Mr. Francis Coutts has joined the considerable number of writers who nave made poems on Arthurian legend. " The Eomance of King Arthur," published by John Lane, is mostly cast in dramatic form. There is a kind of prelude in blank verse called "Uther Pendragon," followed by two dramas Merlin" and " Lancelot du concluding with an epilogue in blank verse, " The Death of Lancelot."

Professor J. C. van Dyke has written a book of "Studies in Pictures," which Mr. Werner Laurie 'is publishing. It will serve as-an introduction to the famous galleries. Something of its scope may be gathered from the chapter headings :— "Old Masters out of Place," "Picture?; Ruined, Restored, Repaired," " False Attributions', Copies * and Forgeries," "Figure Pictures," "Portraiture," and the like.

Messrs. James Maclehose and Sons will publish shortly a new " History of Philosophy,' by Mr. A. 13. D. Alexander,-which aims at dealing with the entire course of European speculation. it will indicate the salient features of the successive systems of philosophy, and show the place and influence of each in the evolution of thought, so that the student of philosophy may estimate the standpoint and significance of a writer individually and in relation to his times.

" The Unknown Power Behind the Irish ' Nationalist Party : Its Present Work and Criminal History," is the elaborate title of a book announced by Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein. It is said to contain "the story of the most powerful pro-Celtic organisation at present in existence, with three centuries of history behind it stained witli treason, outrages, and murders of the darkest dye, down to about thirty years since."

An anonymous writer, who explains his anonymity on the grounds of his plain speaking and criticism, has put forth a stout volume ■with the title "An Observer in the Near East," which Mr. Eveleigh Na.<?h publishes. The author describes the actual conditions of affairs in the Balkan, countries at the present date. His visits to Macedonia, Albania, the Balkan States, Turkey, and so forth were visits of " confidential inquiry" made by a traveller who possessed friends at Court."

There has been more than one edition of the Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe, wife of Sir Richard Fanshawe, Bart., a lady whose life extended from 1600 to. 1672. Now, however, Mr. Lane announces what will no doubt, become the definite edition of the work. It has been printed direct from the original manuscript in the possession of the Fanshawe family, and Mr. H. C. Fanshawe contributes numerous notes which form a running commentary on the text. Many famous pictures are reproduced, including paintings by Velasquez and Van Dyck.

Mis. Robert Louis Stevenson and her son, Mr. Lloyd Osbournc, have arrived in England from the South of France, where they have been staying. Since their arrival Mr. Edmund Gosse has been in communication with them on matters connected with the introduction he is contributing to the Pentland Stevenson. As a result, the forthcoming volumes, consisting mainly of the works written by Stevenson at Vailima, will, in their introductions, contain more personal material than would otherwise have been possible.

Ambition is avarice on stilts and masked —Savage Landor.

The first of all human emotions is jealousy. It takes the place of ambition in a woman.—Lucas Cleeve.

Napoleon was an incomparable financier, as lie was the greatest- of all generals and nearly the greatest of all diplomatists.—Oscar Browning.

The Celt's quick feeling for what is noble and distinguished gave his poetry style his indomitable personality gave it pride and passion; his, sensibility and nervous exaltation gave it a better gilt still, the gift of rendering with wonderful felicity the magical charm of Nature. The forest solitude, the bubbling spring, the wild flowers, are everywhere in romance. They have a mysterious life and grace there; they are Nature's own children, and utter her secret in a way which makes them something quite different from the woods, waters, and plants of Greek and Latin poetry. Now of this delicate magic. Celtic romance is so pre-eminent a mistress that it seems impossible to believe (hat the power did not come into romance from the Celts. Magic is just the word for it—the magic of Nature ; not merely the beauty of Nature—that the Greeks and Latins had; not merely an honest smack of the soil, a faithful realismthat the Germans had: but- the intimate life of Nature, her weird power and her fairy charm.—Matthew Arnold.

Say not, the struggle nought availeth, The labour and the wounds are vain, The enemy faints not. nor faileth. And as things have been, things remain

If hopes were dopes.. fearjs may be liars; It may lie. in yon smoke coneeal'd, Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers, And, but for you. possess the field.

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain. Par bark, through creeks and inlets making. Comes silent,' Hooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows anly, When daylight comes, conies in the light; In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly, But westward, look, the land is bright. : - ■_■'•-,■-■ A, H. CLOUGH.