LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

Mb.' Swinburne's new drama will, it has < now been arranged, be published in England and in America. s r " Pearls and Parasites," a series of essays on scientific subjects*, by Mr. A. E. Shipley will shortly appear,with Mr. Murray. A book on "English Bird Life," by Mr. Knight Horsfield, with: a hundred illustrations from nature, is announced by Messrs. Everett and Co. . The American Mr. Winston Churchill has spent two years on the new novel, "Mr. Crewe's Career," which Messrs. Macmilllan are about to publish. - Mr. Ellis Barker makes an examination of British Socialism, its doctrines, aims, and practical proposals, in a book which Messrs. Smith, Elder are publishing. In "Ice-Bound Heights of the Mustagh," -a book which Messrs. Constable are publishing, Mr. ■■. and Mrs. Bullock Workman give an account of two seasons' exploration and climbing in the Balis-tan Himalaya. Messrs. Cassell announce, a series of detective *ories, which, however, invert the usual order of things, for th: interest is not with the detective. The volume is entitled, "The Seven of Hearts," and is by Mr. Maurice Le Blanc. Sir Charles Santley has at last consented to write his reminiscences, which should lie very interesting. They will appear serially in the Musical Home Journal,-under the title, "Sixty Years a Singer. - ' Later, of course, they will be published in book form probably in -the autumn. ' - Mr. Charles Marriott, whom wo still think of as the author of "The Column" perhaps because it was his first book, perhaps because.he has done nothing to beat it —has a new novel appearing with Mr. Nash. It is entitled "The Kiss of Helen," and is described as a story of " sub-conscious influence." • Herbert Spencer left two documents to be included in the memoir of him which Dr. Duncan lias written, and which Messrs. Methuen are to publish. One, prepared in 1902, is on the philosopher's own " Physical Traits," while the other, written in 1898-9, and styled "The Filiation of Ideas," is a remarkable intellectual history of himself. Mr. H. C. Bailey, who surely gains recognition as a good romancer, has a new romance, " The God of Clay," in the 'press with Messrs. Hutchinson. Napoleon l is the hero of it; not the Emperor, the master of ; half the world, but the artillery lieutenant I of the old regime, the brigadier ot the historic " whiff of grapeshot" that ended the Terror. *■'•'■■/',. Mr. H. a Wells' " New Worlds for Old," which Messrs. Constable announce, will be a notable March book. Its spirit is that of constructive socialism, on the broad concep- i tion of which Mr. Wells makes his' appeal, j Certain misconceptionsas he thinks:—of socialist teaching are put right, and the chief arguments against socialism are considered and dealt with. Mr. Upton Sinclair, the author of that much-debated book, " The Jungle," has completed a new novel, which Mr. Edward Arnold will publish. As Chicago gave the theme of "The Jungle," New York is the subject of "The Metropolis." It is said to be an " indictment of the exotic and vicious life of a section of the very wealthy people in New York society." Is there really a craze just now for surgical operations—in particular for operations to cure appendicitis? One of our younger novelists,, Mr. Arthur Applin, thinks so, for he makes this matter part of the theme of a novel which he has appearing with Mr. Grant Richards. The book is entitled, " The Butcher of Bruton-street," and a fashionable surgeon figures as the chief character in it. The lady who writes as " Frank Dauby," and who wrote " Pigs in Clover," has a new novel appearing with Messrs. Hutchinson. It has the title, "The Heart of a Child," and it consists of " passages from the early life of Sally Snape, Lady Kidderminster." Sally began life humbly," eventually got to the stage, and then jrmped into the peerage—which might all be fact instead of fiction. " The Philosophy of Making Love!" At least it is an arresting title. It is that of a book by Mr. Harold Gorst, a son of Sir John Gorst, which Messrs. Cassell issued early in March. The volume is a critical essay on the marriage relationship, and is, we are"told, designed as a protest against the "pernicious custom of reading immorality into everything that does not spell marriage." Mr, George Lynch writes of Japan as " The Empire of the East" in a book which Messrs., Methuen will shortly publish. ~ It deals consistently and .concisely with the country and the peoplewith the administrative system of the former and the habits and customs of the latter. Finally Mr. Lynch—who is daring:—gives a forecast of the future of Japan"; physical, moral, mental, and political.

Tim Earl of Crawford writes au introduction to a book which Messrs. Witherby and Co. are publishing. The author of it is Mr. M. J. Nicoll, who is well Known as an ornithologist, and who hits, made three long voyages on his lordship's yacht Valhalla. The valuable collections made by Mr. Nicoll during those voyages have, been presented to the Natural History Museum by Lord Crawford.

Mr. Chiozza Money, M.P., recently wrote a book, "Riches and Poverty," and he now promises us another, " Social and Industrial Problems," which is a sequel to it. The volume consists of papers dealing with carrent problems in sociology, politics, industry, and taxation. Mr. Chiozza Money concludes the. work with a.'criticism of the statement of facts; and suggestion of policy which he. presented in "Riches and Poverty" in 1905.

"Do the Dead Depart?" That, and other questions relating thereto, Miss Katharine Bates asks in a new book which Air. Werner Laurie will publish. Her previous book, " Seen and Unseen," attracted lbs attention of Mr. W. T. Stead and other people. In this one she seeks to interest the general public rather than psychic experts. Miss Bates provides, in an appendix, the written opinions of many scientists on the matters she discusses.

A novel of "Can-love." The subject sounds fresh for the novelist, and it is Mr. James Blyth who has selected it. He has a story, "The Weaning," appearing with Mr. Werner Laurie, and we learn that in it lie presents a careful study of the birth, development, and termination of one of those attacks of calf-love, or sentimental-fever, 10 which every large-hearted boy of education is subject. The "curiously subtle artificiality of the disease" is treated with humour, but not. alone with humour.

Mr. Job.. Murray is publishing a history of "The King's Customs," jointly written by Mr. Henry Alton and Mr. H." H. Holland, both of whom are " in the service." They tell the story of the Customs in our islands from the earliest times to the year 1800. Necessarily their narrative contains much ttiat is novel and striking relative to assignments, revenue farming, the ancient smuggling, the older fiscal relations existing between Britain and her colonies, and the part borne by tariffs in causing the American Revolution.

The story of the ships of our Navy which have borne the name "London" is told in a book by Mr. Edward Eraser, which Mr. Lane v is publishing. It relates how Cromwell first gave the name to a man-of-war, and then the deeds of the successive ships to which it descended. The book, which has many illustrations, some in colour, closes with an account of the present battleship London and what will be expected of hoi — On the day of Amageddon, iWhea the North Sea tides run blood, .