BOOKS AND WRITERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19496, 27 November 1926, Page 7 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND WRITERS.

Tlie perennial interest of the personal paragraph on celebrities, and particularly literary celebrities, easily accounts for the popularly of the chatty books of autobiography and random reminiscences which have been so numerous of late. In fMv Life and Times" (Hodder and Stoughton), the versatile Jerome K. Jerome records, in addition to the absorbinf story of his own varied achievements, many good and new stories of some of his famous literary brethren. Conan Doyle, Mr. Jerome tells us, had that wonderful gift, possessed also by Jane Austen, of being able to write a story in " crowded room with people laughing and talking all round him. "He preferred it to being alone in his study.. Sometimes, without looking up from his work, he would make a remark, showing that he must have been listening to our conversation; but his pen had never ceased jnoving." Sir James Barrie had the same gift, and when he was a reporter in his early days—the days of " WJien a Man's Single"—while waiting for orders amid tho babel and confusion o£ the press room he would curl himself up on a chair and peg away at something poetic. Another Barrie story, of later years, relates to his gift for silence at social gatherings. " Once a beautiful but neryous young lady was handed over to his care at a dinner-party. With the sole-au-gratin, Barrie broke the silence. " Have you ever been to Egypt?" The young lady was too started to answer immediately. It was necessary to her to collect herself. While waiting for the entree she turned to him. " No," she answered. Barrio made no comment. He went on with his dinner. At tho end of the chicken en casserole, curiosity overcoming her awe, she turned to hiiji again, "Have you?" she asked. A far away expression came into Barrie's great deep eyes. " No," he answered. Alter that, they both lapsed into silence. To the justly popular Wanderer series, E. V. Lucas has now added " A Wanderer in Rome" (Metliuen). He deals with his vast subject in the " conversational, informative and impressionistic manner" which makes easy reading even if he leads us through literal miles of pictures, sculptures and objects d'art. . . . His obviously genuii e admiration and his literary skill prevent him from becoming " guide-booky" and though he apologises for having omitted much, he truly continues " One book may suffice to kindle enthusiasm for Rome, but only a library can explain her." •The book is illustrated with very fine photographic reproductions of lamous pictures and statues and with water-colour sketches that seem rather inadequate to their subjects. The Golden Hind'' is the name of a new series which John Lane is bringing out early next year. It is to consist of biographies of both the well-known and the less well-known pioneers and discoverers. J. C. Squire has written on Richard Grenville; E. F. Benson on Francis Drake; Keble Chatterton on John Smith; and Mr. Waldiaan, assistant editor of the London Mercury, on Walter Raleigh. # * * * Lady Dorothy Mills who some years ago, before her marriage, visited New Zealand with her father, Lord Oxford, has since become an ardent traveller. She is the first Englishwoman to reach Timbuctoo and the account of her travels is called " Through Liberia." * * .# . # » Norman Gale, in "A Flight of Fancies," has writtfjn \ some charming children's verses, verses, that is, from the child's point of view. The art of misspelling is triumphantly evident in LOUISA'S POEM. Wen I was yungand hadunt hares, And didunt never say my prare3 •No more than baby don't upstares, I was a favrit chiM. But now my nurse keeps saymg Loo» Wot kook and gardener fink is troo, A deemins crone and .got in you And xnade you wikid wild, i Bitter criticism of our educational gystern is contained in the small boy's lament that • It" 8 only half a - joy To be a human boy; Ilea taken to a den of domineering men, And told that Eihelred (How ' valuable') is • dead. He passes further on To learn the date of John With various kinds o£ bosh * Connected with the Wash.