BOOKS AND WRITERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 7 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND WRITERS.

A significant movement toward better international understanding between France and Gernfeuiy is announced in the founding m eaSt country ( of a scholarly review, to be the intellectual exponent of an organisation devoted to the study, of the culture of the neighbouring country. In Paris the periodical will be called " Revue FrancoAllemande," and in Germany the corresponding publication will be " DeutschFranzosische Rundschau." The contributors; to both papers will be journalists and Literateurs of the highest standing. * * * ♦ ft Rudyard Kipling, who manages so successfully, says the New York Herald Tribune, to elude the limelight of publicity, and who retains a degree of private individuality which is anathema to tnost modern writers, especially Shaw, is going on a trip to Canada this fall, where he will attend the School of Science* centenary celebrations at the University of Toronto. Science has long been one of his chief hobbies, and his knowledge of its more practical sides has astonished experts more than once. He therefore will be thoroughly at homo in tbs celebrations. . Admiration for Kipling's work is said to be particularly strong in Canada, Cecil Roberts, the novelist, has edited " The Diary of Russell Beresford," a pseudonym "for a young Englishman he knew, who fought through the war. Afterwards he spent several years working on the excavations at Carthage, and then he came to England on a holiday. The book consists of extracts from bis journal and letters covering the last nine months of his life and telling his love Story. It gives. according to Mr. Roberts, the picture of a thoughtful, sensitive . man of modern type with a reserve force behind him. The book is to be published by Heinemann One possibly unexpected result of the boom in broadcasting, with its talks cn various subjects, has been to overwhelm the provincial libraries in England with requests for books that have never been stocked or required. Librarians report an immense increase in the demand for books on music, travel, natural history, dietetics and anthropology. By more effective collaboration between the public libraries and the British Broadcasting Company, it is hoped adequately to rater for broadcast listeners. This subject was sneciallv discussed at the International Conference recently held in Edinburgh. The Rescue Series published by Elkiu Matthews husMOr lis ouject, as as name implies, the saving ol wortiiy old books from oblivion. Ilia latest reprint m tile series is " The Semi-Attached Couple," by the Hon Emily Eden, who was a sister ol Lord Auckland, once Viceroy ox India, irom wnoai our own city oi Auckland and Mount Eden take their names. The book does lor a ratner higher level oi society in 1850 what Jane Austen's books did for the provincials of her time, and there are close affinities between the two writers. it appears that " Ihe Semi-Attached (Joupie " is constantly advertised lor, and that has suggested the reprinting oi it. * * * * * Much striking and characteristic Jewish wisdom is contained in the collection oi maxims and precepts known as Ecclesiasticus in the Apoctypha. Like the other books, says a writer in the Daily Telegraph, it" was part of thef sacred literature of the Alexandrine Jews, and has always exercised influence as a commentary on life and manners. The idea of illustrating Ecclesiasticus, especially in colour, is a bold one, but it has been undertaken by Miss Violet Brunton in a fine edition which the Bodley Head announces. Mr. Lewis Kurd is contributing an introduction to this presentation of the " wisdom of Jesus, the Son of Sirach." English people, according to the testimony oi pur-ushers and booksellers, are spending more money on new books and new euitions oi oid books than they have done since beiore the war. two general conclusions are taken irom this, that the book market has resumed all its ancient vitality, "and that the rising generation, however fond it may be oi other diversions, increasingly seeks reading. J.list fine and expensive editions of great works sell well is shown in the announcement ol Basil Blackwell, of Oxford, that a " Froissart," which he has done in eight volumes, was all taken up immediately by the booksellers. ***** S. P. B. Mais, whatever may be bis failings.-, as a novelist, at least possesses the saving grace of generous enthusiasm, and 'this attractive quality is evident in " See England Birst (Richaids), in which he dilates upon the charms of Sussex in particular, with a special word for the rural fare. " Never were eggs fresher, naperv more cleanly, crabanple jellv sweeter, or tea fnore palatable. He also has chapters on Oxlordshire. Dorset, Cornwall and Devon, and everywhere shows the qualities of an entertaining travelling companion. *"* * * * Miss Ethel M. Dell, like other popular novelists, gets many letters from her readers, and sometimes these contain requests and suggestions. This circumstance is behind her new romance shortlv to be published by Benn. It has the title " By Request," with the sul> title "The Love-story of Noel and Pc-egv, from ' The Keeper of the Door, written bv request of some of my readers." "Several old characters arereintroduced, including the dasTiyig .Nick Ratcliffe, hero of 91 The Way of an Eaglc -" '