THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

MUSSOLINI AS NOVELIST.

A VERY READABLE BOOK

Anything connected with Mussolini is assured of considerable attention. His publishers have realised this, and have commercialised (lis name by publishing books written by him beforo ho broke into the world of politics. The result bears something the same relationship to his reputation as interviews with famous I actresses published in popular magazines bear to their art. If written thirty years ago by an unknown writer, " The Cardinal's Mistress " is sufficiently good to have won some interest. As matters stand it brings less than nothing to Mussolini b fame. His active, virile brain would have brought him recogni tion m 1 any field of activity he choso, but writing with him was only a means to mi end He had politics, and, above all, revolution, in his blood, and wroto to provide himself with the wherewithal to gratify his ambition., Originally, the story appeared serially in a newspaper m Trent, where Mussolini was employed, and attracted much interest. The introduction discloses that " Every now and then, however, the author got tired of his heroine, Claudia, and felt inclined to kill her off, but Cesare Battisti would implore him not to do so. ' For heaven's sake, don't!' Battisti would exclaim. ' The tions are being renewed splendidly.' Thus baulked of his chief victim. Mussolini's homicidal tendencies found scope among the subsidiary characters, and the fates of Claudia and her lover continued to set palpitating the hearts of all the young dressmakers and oflico clerks and artisans in the town." That is how the story reads, as if the author were more interested in putting forth " chuggy " bits than in the characters themselves. Nevertheless the book is very readable, written with the pomp and circumstance which hedged in great personages m the romances of an earlier decade, beforo people were moro interested in men than in kings It is concerned with the love which for twenty years oxisted between the Prince and Cardinal of Trent, and Claudia, the daughter of his chief counsellor Refused a marriago dispensation by the Pope, opposed by the Prelates, fearful ot a revolt among the people, the Cardinal yet defied them all until tho death of Claudia by poisoning broke his spirit, and left him a defeated old man. the last of his race. " The Cardinal's Mistress," by Benito Mussolini. (Cassell).

NEW HISTOHICAL MEDIUM. GRAND ,ARMY OF NAPOLEON. In writing " Vivandiere," Phoebe Fenwick Gayo has hot been daunted by a tremendous theme—thd* 1 advance of tho Grand Army of Napoleon on Moscow, opposed only by empty plains and desolate villages; the occupation; and the disastrous retreat, a prey to hunger, cold, and disease. It is difficult to believe that the author is a young girl writing her first novel—it has. the strength and scope of a man's , work, mingled with the delicacy of treatment of a woman's. The writer settles down before her broad canvas with deliberation—it might bo a Cezanne or a Matisse passing tho subject before his eyes, sifting the mass of events, selecting tho most vivid impressions which remain, then painting them in with bold strokes. Thus, jumping from peak to peak among tho high lights,' leaving out all distracting details, she seeks by a scries of vivid sketches to catch tiio spirit of the campaign. Tho method relics for' full appreciation on a foreknowledge of historical events, and as a new medium for the historical novel leaves something to be desired. In creating an artistic ray to light up the dull pages of history, Miss Gave has achieved a distinct success. The campaign is viewed through tho eyes and surroundings of Julio, a vivandiere, a kindly, honest, unselfish creature, who can subduo her whole personality to minister to the comfort and welfare of her regiment. In her love story, a mingling of kindly sacrifice, dogged endurance, and unquenchable hope, there breathes the very spirit of France. "Vivandiere," by Phoebe .Fenwiek Gaye. (Martin Seeker).

DAVID GARNETT'S CHARM. A STUDIED SIMPLICITY. A now book by David Garnett is an event in tho literary world. In delicious anticipation, one doubts if tho latest can possibly rival tho last but one. Amazingly enough, it does. Yet how to discern wherein lies David Garnett's particular charm ? All of his books are remarkable for their freshness and originality. A certain studied simplicity sets all "that lie writes apart. " No Love," his latest boon, seems at the momer.f of reading to be tho best thing David Garnett lias written. 110 uses a larger' canvas than is usual with him and sets in contrast two families living as neighbours on an island. Admiral Keltic, his superficial wife, and restless son, constitute ono family. Ralph Lydiatt, farmer his wife and children tho other. Tho Keltics are comparatively wealthy but have no love between them; on the othei hand the Lydiatts radiate warmth and happiness. There is littlo real friendship between the families. but throughout their lives tho shared associations hold for both families a constant appeal. There are memorable passages of beauty throughout the book and a warmth of human feeling that in its own way encompasses tho reader. "No Love" is an entirely satisfying book j "No Love." by David Garnett (Chatto and Windua).

ANOTHER WAR NOVEL, A PIPER IN THE TRENCHES. " The Path of Glory," hy George Blake, is a war novel. There seems to be an ever-increasing supply of such books being written at present, while on the other hand there are many readers who are anxious to keep green in their memories those dangerous days. Mr Blake's no .el is simply and pathetically unfolded. His hero is a Scotsman, son of a tinker, with a passion for piping, who joined forces in war time under the spell of the bagpipes played after a football match, and looked forward to piping to the troops in France. He goes forward unquestioningly. His piping keeps him happy vvhilo in training: also it keeps him the companionship of his friend John He is betrayed several times by his unsophistication, and finally goes into action in Gallipoli. All the waste and futility of war is revealed throughout the latter part of the book Separated train his friend, ho is con vinced he sees his borly lying wounded in; No Man's Land, and in an endeavour to bring him in is himself shot. The book is simply written. There is no straining after effect, yet a very definite effect is achieved. "'The Path of Glory," by George Blako, (Constable).