CURRENT LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17633, 20 November 1920, Page 1 (Supplement)

CURRENT LITERATURE.

| notes ON NEW books. :V." Br CRITIC.. • [ Perhaps more than any other British Dominion, Australia has had a literature and an art most peculiarly its own. ' So personal; and yet so universal of appeal, has been the expression of the sister arts that have been born in this continent, that they' have never failed to • win recognition from the world. Contrasting New Zealand with 7 Australia, one may hazard' the opinion that there has been shown in Australia a confidence in the talent of its sons and daughters that has tremendously fostered the growth of -Australian literature: Its publishers are willing to experiment and to stand by their protegees, with a largeness of heart that is not yet in. this country extended to struggling novice? in both writing and the decorative arts. TWO AUSTRALIAN NOVELS. "The Mahogany Ship"—-by V. Williams (Ward, Lock, v Me.bourne)v-—This young Australian author has all the essentials for the " breathless" type of mystery story. He adds", a picturesqueness of setting that is not so usual in European books of this type. One feels that he has a certain coastal , nook in his mind that has suggested itself •to him as just the place for buried treasure. And as buried treasure of pirate days, and the machinations of Jesuits have- ever been favourite proper-: ties of the story-teller, he is certain from the outset of the attention of his readers. He keeps it, too, till the end, in a most clever way, and -though- he may carry, his te.egony theory rather further than the.! scientist ■>, of this decade : allows,' he still makes a good case for it, and it is only a? detail : after all.. His story runs that a J quiet man of academic tastes in : his solitude . at Point . Hare is • disturbed .by the arrival of neighbours. " After 5 . some J preliminary ?■'; sparring he learns the secret of their . coming— are on the track of- buried treasure and he has written a book, which to them indicates that he holds the secret. A wreck.in ..which a . certain Joachim ' IToyne is concerned, the ; discovery ; that Poyne, is a Jesuit, also on the treasure hunt, the abduction 'of , Cicely Kix by . the - Jesuits, the .actual ; finding of the ; treasure, the discovery that both Martin : Bix and ■ Father 1 Joachim are.:- descended from .two branches -of the . family who' owned the treasure this makes very exciting ; reading, the incidents of which form an entertaining. book. "Castle Vane"by J.' H. M. Abbott (Angus Robertson,- Sydney).—The - author is ; well-known ' in; : Australia under "the pseudonym of ; "Cornstalk."' He. has delved into the convict days of Australia for. his present novel, and' has drawn a • striking ; presentation of a type, ;a*. tyrannical officer who was often responsible' for the black portions of New South Wales history. Being in a rage on account of having,to-pay for his - land, Major Vane notices two buttons undone on; as private's; tunic., He thereupon orders him fifty lashes. The private , breaks ; guard,/ punches . the major's nose, and runs for his life, diving into a Jew's bookshop. He cannot be found by the search , party,-. but after their departure he ,is disguised ■ and . taken away by the - Jews to -i join &: band of outlaws. These ;; latter £ try ; their fi luck at , Major Wane's'country residence, lead Vane into an ambush, and torment him before carrying put their threat- of death. But young Delane will not have this, and 'h 0 helps 'the-,ma]or to escape. - After, a long story good incident, is discovered to be next- heir | to, an - T earldom and . the major to. be his cousin. The story sis true .to detail ; of, the wilddays of ; Australian J bushranging. "§ ; - "The Poems of Henry Kendall" (Angus Robertson, Sydney ; W'ildman and Arey, Auckland). —This modern edition of the works ,of.a; popular poet, long 5 held in repute 'as amongst Australia's best legacies of 'literature, contain, in addition to the three 'volumes printed in hie lifetime, other, poems not then reprinted, ■ and certain others from the ; Kendall MSS. v in the Mitchel Library. An interesting preface by Bertram Steven very aptly summarises Kendall's life arid work. ."As our first sweet singer, . Kendall has an enduring ■place m the Regard'of all Australians; and his best work is known ; and admired wherever Australian poetry is . read." He was" the first to draw his inspiration' from the life, scenery, and' traditions of 1 the J country. He is a true singer his songs remain; and are likely long to remain, attractive to poetry lovers. ' ~ ,r f ? .

MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE. , " Goldoni and the Venice of His Time.", by Joseph Spencer Kennard (Macmillan, London). —Introducing to new readers "the ; i .most popular *playwright the ; world ?has' .ever'seen. j Dr. 1 Kennard^describes his ( life „in Italy ?■> amid all the attractions of Florence, Home, v. Pisa, ; Paris, and, above all, Venice—"Venice, so's mysterious, 'so fascinating, one continual carnival." In all this - Italian .. playwright i composed nearly, three hundred plays {mostly comedies), interludes, hcoks for operas, cantatas, and miscellanea,? besides many " compliments,": • many in verse, for his patrons— bibliography of one thousand titles would: still be incomplete." ,In Italian, there »sve been printed more than thirty editions of his : plays, , and the number :is : constantly : increasing.^;His dates, were from 1707 to 1793. .i He died in Paris troubled with ! parblindness 1 ' and suffering• fromV; poor health for the last few years of his life. He is:, an "interesting figure among the world's old literati. V' " " e - - *. -:-r vT.T £v ■ ' _ "When the Empire Crashed"-by' A. W. Marchmont (Ward Lock, Melbourne; Wildman and Arey, Auckland). —A story - of sinister doings in Russia in connection with the German war. ! The plot hinges on the • resemblance of Eafe 'Henshaw. to' a certain American German named Stein. " With the Prince in New Zealand," —by 11. Hector Bolitho (Saves Auckland) —The author- republishes journalistic sketches written for various papers' during the Prince's visit, accompanying them by good photographs, well reproduced.. "Otago University: Call for a Royal Commission" (Evening;-Star, Dimedin; Whit'combe, Tombs, Auckland). —The " writer -, argues that the ?■ Otago University has • been controlled: by * the Presbyterian Church. '~ He' asserts that the history of the chair of mental "science; proves" this. He refers to it a3 " an apostolic succession.'' He 'states: that **' sectarian - bias ; accepts ecclesiastical: status as a 'substitute for academic distinction, experience and scientific research." On these grounds he : calls for a Boyal Commission. . ' „ "We Heed the Business'*— Joseph Austrian (Stokes, New York; Whitcombe, Tomb*. Auckland). These „■ are th letters of Phillip ; Citron, { head of '• the : house of : Citron, Gumbines. and C 0. ,: as f written_ to his son, who is representing the firm in various centres. Somewhat amnsing.- They portray the materialistic | .business •_ aspect ' of ii matters as seen by , the ■ Jewish manufacturer. - " Social Theory " G. D. H. Cole (Methuen, London). •• is an " attempt to iefc- out in a clear,, and . easily "intelligible : form ' the i new ' ideas ,in .' relation ; to social | theory which are steadily gaming ad- ; herents".*' Special attention is" devoted to j the importance' of the economic factor in j 1 society, ' and to the true function ;of the < State - in relation both to - the individual ; and - to other- forms of - association. ■ " Custom," argues the -writer, .*/ is perhaps strongest among women, and;- association is certainly strongest among men; hut amonjr women also the growth of association is following hard upon the awakening of a. wide social consciousness."- Tha hook is intended for the edification of the I general leader. •=> ~ !£&&&!