THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

NEW BOOK ON DICKENS.

/ TRUTH WITH JUSTICE. "It is an amiablo characteristic of the human race to lako an interest in the private lives of its great men. To cater for this interest, is was usual in format periods to publish only what was vir tuous and praiseworthy. Of late it has become the fashion to lay stress on all tho weaknesses. Neither method is com uienduble, nor, tf interest in the charao tcrs is sincere, is it satisfactory. How abominable then is tho biogvaphei who seeks notoriety or monetary gain by pan tiering to r he public craving for scandal by maagnifying and distorting tho human weaknesses of his subjects. Tho namo of Charles Dickens has ro ccutly been singled out for unworthy treat ment. Such an attack cannot bo countei acted by the praise and adulation of his admirers. Tho only defence is to publish the truth, hiding nothing of importanco. admitting that Dickens was a man, not an angel, with a man's weaknesses and temptations, secure in the knowledgo that the author of Pickwick, Littlo Nell, and Dombey and Son, must be fundamentally sound at heart.

Mr. Ralph Strauss' excellent and timely book Will bo welcomed by all well-wishers of Dickens. In tho first place it is easy to read, 'lie stylo being narrative rather lhan academic. In tho second place it makes a judicial attempt to set out tho facts so far as they are known. It does not claim for Dickens that ho was freo from faults as n man or an author, but by a well-balanced presentation of the evidence available it gains an authoritative attention. Mr. Strauss sees Dickens as an excitable, quick-tcrnp crcd, obstinate man, generous and tmpul sivo to a fault, but self-opinionated and illogical. 110 quarrelled with all bis publishers, and was invariably in the wrong. On tho other hand, ono must sympathise with him in his relations •with his father and brothers, for which he lias been criticised.

Mr. Strauss deals with the debated ques tion of Dickens' marital relationships with good sense and straightforwardness. Square-toed respectability has ever claimed Dickens as its high priest. But Dickens was no puritan. Ho had a love of conviviality and good cheer, and the theatre had always an overwhelming attraction for him. The enemies of puritanism seized upon the conjugal separation as a cer tain cloak to hide a scandal, but they have been singularly ill-rewarded for their pains. Dickens married a wife with ■whom he had scarcely any interests in common, whose mental outlook irritated him more each year, lie must have been difficult and exacting to live with, and in tho end, both were very glad to end a situation which had bccomo intolerable.

Tho attempt to make much of Dickens' rc-mecting with Maria Beadnell is stupidly futile. His senses were caught up with the anticipation of retasting the attraction of his youth, and some romantic letters were written, but when ho saw the demands timo had mado on her beauty ho was blunt almost to rudeness, and the affair wiUod. Dickens' wide sympathies and restless mind naturally sought friend fillips with women, but his celebrated manifesto of innocence, however, ill-advised, carries an air of truth. The prediction has been ventured that this book is likely to be the recognised text book on Dickens for those who requiro something more condensed than Forster's Life. " Dickens," by Ralph Strauss (Gollancz).

" kaleidoscope."

DAY-DREAMS OF ANTHONY,

Those people who have accorded " Martin Pippin" a special niche in their heart of hearts, may be a little disappointed with "Kaleidoscope." But, indeed, Eleanor Farjeon set her standard too high—no one could write two " Martin Pippins" — and " Kaleidoscope " is a refreshing book. It concerns the boyhood of Anthony, who 3ooks back down the years as through a kaleidoscope, and sees the broken pieces of his childhood, a memory here, an incident there, set down haphazard as they floated across his consciousness. Rather a remarkable little boy, of the genus that doting and interpretive aunts are wont to describe as cute, with an imagination that is apt to j"un away "with him, and a habit of daydreaming, which will often make him late for meals when his youthful appctito be corncs less sclf-assertivo. It is all just a little precious—it may bo that Eleanor Farjeon is always a little precious, but Intherto it was not noticeable —she always intoxicated the reader with the magic of her pen Here there aro some delicate and delightful touches, but at other times the fantasy seems a trifle deliberate, the blend of real and mako-bolieve is not complete. Nevertheless for that gossamer texture which only Miss Farjeon can weave, her many admirers will bo grateful. • "Kaleidoscope." by Eleanor Farjeon (Collins). THE TENDER PASSION. AN ENTERTAINING STORY. Miss E. M. Delafield sums her own Story up in her title. Or does she ask a question of the reader ? Her book ccr tainly abounds with examples of the ten der passion. - Almost too many the reader is inclined to-think, sinco none aro satisfactory. The story opens most romantically with a. runaway love affair, except that its heroine is the, mother of two young child ren. Theso two children play a prominent part in the story. Both aro interesting types but unhappily enough, both, when grown up, fall in lovo unsuitably Vicky, their cousin and boon companion, also a most attractive but ultra modern type, is made to play the part of vamp and .villianess. In spito of certain weaknesses m tlie story it is always entertaining, being written with Miss Delafield's usual verve, and if tlio conclusion leaves souio readers a little unconvinced, at least ho has read to tho cud. "What is Love?" by E. M. Delafield (Mucmiilim).