NEW BOOKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18173, 19 August 1922, Page 6 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS.

BY CRITIC. Most of «s, one is inclined to think, are really -weary of war books. As to the causes of war, the public is satisfied with books on the subject. It is interesting to notice how topics and personalities may outline their interest., If the Kaiser of Germany had chosen to write memories any time between 1914 and 1920,- the whole world -would have read them. But we have been told so often, from so many angles, and points of view, the manner in which war came about, that even the most interested patriot may be forgiven for now confessing his apathy in this matter and a desire for lighter, more normal reading. Possibly the publication of wholesome fiction, in which seX problems play a less part than the study of clean, natural, pleasant, homely people, would tend to cleanse our minds from the defilement of sordid books and from the pessimism of after-war horrors than anything else. Wo need it so badly. Are there ho true novelists left who wife lead ns into the paths of laughter and sweet serenity* Must we go on enduring justifications of this, that, or the other man? Balfcour, regret, disillusion,' have done their best to make life unhappy. If we. could shut the door on these for at least a year, we might emerge, normal, once again. We are all suffering from an overplus of explanation. Why should we continue to pretend that patriotism is the excuse for it?

" With the Judaeans ia the Palestine Campaign"—by Lieut.-Colonel J, H. Patterson, D.S.O. (Hutchinson, London).—We have read much, since war days, which goes to prove how little public apprecia : tion has been given to the Palestino campaign. Colonel Patterson adds another book on a side subject of this Eastern work, which gives us news of yet another instance, not only by lack of appreciation, but according to his statements of absolute injustice to the Jewish regiments which he commanded. He claims,that from the very start, this regiment of Jews was derided,' was neglected, wus debarred from receiving the praise which its exploits and general work deserved. He is not himself a Jew; but he is unstinted in praise of his men, and scathing in criticism of the authorities who withheld from these soldiers their due need of recognition. His men fought with due appreciation of the fact that conquest of the Turks meant the restoration of Palestine to the Jewish race; and if one accepts his narrative with the oft-repeated allegation, apparently well proved, that the Jewish battalion was not always fairly dealt with by the higher command, the institution oi: this fighting unit was more than justified. As a chronicle of events, Colonel Patterson's book is very interesting, and is a vivid chapter to add to the literature which is slowly establishing the vital importance of that difficult and successful field of army operations.

" Reminiscences of An Indian Cavalry Oaicer" —by Colonel J. S. E. Western (Allen and Unwin, London). —The colonel is a cheery soul, who no doubt has made many a dinner party enjoyable by means of his powers as a raconteur. His stories come thick and fast, one after the other. His school days, his young soldier days, are described very well indeed by the means of these breezy anecdotes. Most of the memoris deal with his career as an Indian cavalry officer, and all are interesting and amusing; lightly written, but with an undercurrent of British fairplay and common sense. "The Memoris of the Crown Prince" —(Thornton, Butterworth, London; Dymocks, Sydney).—Every British reader will be conscious of a mental inquiry into the reasons why the Crown Prince of Germany wrote this book. Intended as a diary of recollections for personal use. as it no doubt was, it would prove a solace to an exiled prince. Given to the world, it serves no particular purpose. True, he extols our late King Edward; he exonerates the Tsar of Russia from anything* but timidity ; the Kaiser he depicts as a somewhat bombastic, but quite harmless, puppet, in the hands of stranger politicians. Himself an easy-going debonair, popular monarch-to-be—does any English judge of character like the portrait which he apparently is content to have reproduced, and which fails to support the exile's defence of himself?—these are his claims to publication. However, the prisoner "has explained himself, to the world, albeit the world may not take the prisoner's view of himself. He appears to have inherited this personal vanity; and in the present state of European affairs, the, disclaimer matters very little. What we are mostly concerned with now is not so much how things came to be as they are, but how to set them right. LIGHTER SUBJECTS. "The Great Husband Hunt"—by M. Barnes-Grundy (Hutchinson, London). —A story which may cause many girls to go advertising, since out of the four nieces of Uncle Tonij who go forth to seek husbands, two land sufficiently eligible young men. Uncle Tom. inherits money. •He proposes that on the first engagement among the four, she shall have a thousand pounds', and' a dowry npon marriage. Peronelle is the most adventurous. She becomes companion to Miss Oakwood, who travels to the South of France. Here Bhe meets Martin Synge, and falls in Jove. But Elizabeth, an American, appears, affianced to Martin, whereupon Peronelle cultivated a friendship with a Frenchman, who disappoints her by proposing other conditions than marriage. Right on the heels of this disappointment, comes Martin to announce that Elizabeth, the American beauty, has released him from his engagement, and has sent him to Peronelle. So the adventurous one returns to England to claim her dowry, and discovers that Agatha; the quiet one who had preferred to stay at home, has annexed Mike Thaxted, the only man in their village, who ha 9 been there all along, but regarded as negligible by the other three girls. 4 t

"Title Clear"—by Sara Jeanette Duncan (Hutchinson, London). —A simple and very attractive novel, holding abundance of humour. Tragedy is woven into the lives of the Scottish villages, but there is a redeeming light-heartedness that refuses to be crushed by sorrow. Mrs. Tod is the stern Scots mother, who finds her daughter in the summer house—a revolving affair—with her sweetheart. He, Campbell Fraser, is so indignant with the old lady's tirade that he at once gives up his cherished desire of becoming a minister, and leaves the district. He is reported next as killed in South Africa- When the 1914 war is rasing, Christina Tod, regretting that Kirkiebrig had no men to send to the front, presents to the village a monumental cross, in memory of Campbell Fraser, and on the day of trie presentation ceremony there arrive William Fraser, long since migrated to America, and his son. Although he had not been judged veiry favourably in his birthplace, the fact that he has become a wealthy American is in his favour. He dislikes the idea of the memorial cross, and offers other things to the village. His son Campbell, flirts with Magpie, the niece of Christina Tod, and William finds Christina herself so pleasing that he offers marriage. ' Miss Tod makes the alarming discovery that William is really her old lover Campbell, but she declines his proposal. In the end explanations have to be made. Meantime the young American enlists as a Highlander, marries Maggie, and goes to war. His father, ashamed of his past desertion in South Africa and his subsequent masquerade as William also Joins up as driver. He marries his old sweetheart, and there are soon two widows >n the httle Scottish village. Ample £wi a .I°l B i orro , w . but treated so whole- ' S hapUe£ °° k leaV€B imnrWi ° n