HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 7 (Supplement)

HERE AND THERE.

For every two novels published for the fiist time 'in Great Britain (hiring 1928 three older ones were reprinted. For the first time n complete and up-to-date dictionary of tho .Turkish language is being prepared by a special commission. A new telephone exchange at Kentou, near Harrow, will be called "Wordsworth." Another at South Harrow is " Byron." All Turks between the, ages of sixteen and forty-five have now to undergo a compulsory course at school to learn the new alphabet which has superseded the old Turkish lettering. The January choice of the American " Book-of-the-Montli " Club was "Joseph and His Brethren," by If. W. Freeman, a story of five brothers permeated by the smell of the soil. Arnold Bennett objects to authors writing introductions to the books of other living authors. A book, he says, should not, be led into a ring like a performing horse at a circus. Mr. Allan N. Monkhouso deprecates offers of prizes for the best novel. " It is not necessary," be points out, "to give prizes to find out which aro the books we should buy. Reviewers nowadays do their work efficiently enough to give young authors legitimate chances," Twenty six members of a club at Amersham, Buckinghamshire, have collaborate!] in writing a novel. One member wrote the first two chapters, another the last three, and twenty four people one chapter each. It is c;ill"d " A Chillem Complication," and only two copies exist! John L. Murphy, who has hern released on ticket of-leave from Ohio State Prison, whither ho was sent five years ago to serve a ten years' sentence for burglary, established, while in prison, a reputation as a writer of romances dealing with the war. He is said to have earned £l*loo by his pen in a single year.