THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

SUBSTITUTE FOR DOGMA

A 1300 K FOR THE CIUTICAL

In the preface to " The Lamp and the Lute," Mr. I.onamy Dobree says these studies "being designed as popular lectures, are also something in the nature of introductions which may appear too simple to those already familiar with the subjects." He refers to a very select coterie, for the studies are very subtle analyses of six modern authors, Ibsen. Hardv. Kipling, Forster, Lawrence, and T. S." Kliot, to the deeper understanding of which considerable scholarship and literary appreciation are necessary. _ In acknowledging the help he has received from his contemporaries he says very neatlv, " If I have thieved too freely, I would plead that I am of my time, sharing in certain directions of thought, ready to accept anything from my contemporaries which guides mo to the path 1 am groping along.' It would be profitless to pick out these six- writers unless somo common thread bound them in somo relationship. Mr. Dobree finds that thread in the struggles of all these writers to discover some solution of the doubts consequent on the breakdown of dogmatic faith, their " intuition" or revelation of some peculiar force, on which to hang their faith. The test of a writer's permanence is a metaphysical one, his preoccupation with the relations of man to the I niverse. When he deals with problems ot the day, he weakens his art unless he merely uses them a? a vehicle to convey Ins broauer speculations. The facts of existence remain the same, whereas moral problems change and arc lost. The plays of law and Galsworthy already begin to " date, because they are concerned with evolving a better social scheme, without ulterior motive. It is these excursions into general themes, even more than the consideration of the work of the six writers, which give the hook its value—his analysis of the meaning of terror and P't>' order (o get at the fineness of Hardy s pessimism; his discrimination between the old and the new school of present-day novelists, Wells, Galsworthy. Bennet, who sav " This is what life is like,' and proceed to describe societv for us, and the new school. Forster, Woolf, Proust, which tends rather to question. " Is life really liko this?" For the novelist now-a-days bars lost his background, the old established values, the enduring social customs. The problem is that he has also lost his faith. , To return to the six, Kipling s urge is a desire for action and a love of loyalty. He believes that life was given man for a discipline and an adventure. E. _M. Forster seeks the perfect human relationship, neglecting the outer world for the inner. D. 11. Lawrence's impossible hurdle is making words describe direct sensations. His intuition is toward a more natural habit of life, the life of impulse; but the danger is that a too' acute description of sensation is likely to destrov the beauty of the thing it would extol. Mr. T. S. Eliot's selection to represent the modern poet is somewhat, surprising; but lest he feel unduly elated Mr. Dobree makes it clear that ho is the only possible claimant out of a bad lot. The. necessity for any selection at all is not clear. Mr. Dobree invariably sides with the literary few, against the popular many, even at times to the point of literary snobbishness. I bus when lie savs that" it, is a flaw in Hardy that he pandered to the vanity of the weak by choosing his heroes and heroines in lowlv places, he has surely got his sense of criticism somewhat awry. Nor can it be mrreed that "good art is always cut <>ft from life; its figure# do not exist in our tunc, they live in n time of their own." Surelv once more a distorted point of view. It is a book for the critical, but a book which the critical will enjoy. "The T/'mp nnd Hip T.tite." by Bonamy Dobicc. (Clarendon Press).

PHILOSOPHY OF BARRIE, I'Ol'll UN K-ACT PLAYS. A new play by Sir James Barrio. is always welcome. It. is certain that hero is something that will be pleasant to read, something that will suggest the intimate company of friends before one goes out into the rude world again. 'loo much Barrio would make one grow soft, and yielding. His philosophy does not brace the reader to go bravely out in the moiniug to face tho knocks of the Bather it. applies balm to his bruises as he relaxes in the evening of his day. Somehow life is not altogether like the magic sweetness of a Barrie pla\, Noithei is it like the brittle wit of Noel Coward, 01* the combative intellectuality of Bernard Shaw, or the raw virility of Eugene O'Neill. Each of these presents ono face to the world, excellent in its way, but. not representative of tho whole. In the field of modern drama. Barrio's whimisical sentiment supplies by no means tho least, essential ingredient. The present volume comprises four oneact plays, the first of which " Shall Wo Join tlie Ladies?" provides the titlo of tho hook. It is as near to .1 melodrama as Barrie is ever likely to write. A commonplace little host entertains a number of brilliant guests, one of whom has murdered the host's brother. By means of a number of subtle, remarks casually dropped into the conversation, _bo sets about surprising the guilty one into convicting himself. Tho play finishes 011 a dizzily high note a moment, before the denouement, is reached.

The second play "Half an Hour." is j hat moving little drama which lias been heard at the " talkies" in, Auckland, under the title " Tho Doctor's .Secret." The other two plays, " Seven Women," and " Old Friends'" are slighter, and might have been written by Gertrude Jennings and Stacv Aumonier respectively, the one dealing with a rather unlikely joke played by a host on his cruests, and tho other with a daughter addicted to drink. Barrie always writes his plays to bo played, bis intimate knowledgo of tho_ theatro being of tho utmost value to liiin as a playwright. "Shall VTti Join the Ladies?" and other plays, by Sir J. M. Bnrrie. (Hoddcr and Stoughlon).

ADVENTURE WITH THRILLS. A VENEZUELAN ROMANCE. Sinco Edgar Wallace lias become England's best seller, n. fashion lins set in among the more literary writers to add a little of the spice of adventure <o their stories. The readers, of 1929 insist upon a thrill with their literature and as usual (ho demand has quickly created a supply. Mr. Stribling's new novel " Strange Moon" is ;i typical example of the best tvoo of thriller. Tt overflows with adventure but it is outstanding becauso tlicro is much morn to it than adventure. IT is background is under the strange moon of a Venezuelan sky. Manners, an American agent,, comes to Venezuela to secure an oil concession that is claimed by both an aristocrat ajid a peon. A Dutch company is also trying to secure the same concession. Manners, (lie clean limbecf, " Honest-to-God,' vouug American. lias rill his business illusions shattered, while trving to outdo the Dutch company. A beautiful and seductive dancer called Sola, greatly adds to tho romance of the story. . , Life in Venezuela seems to bo fairly hectic and Mr. Stribling gives his readers moro than a cursory glance round, rlits author lias a bright and original mind which has plenty of scope under Venezuelan skies. Tho hero's escapades are vivid and exciting and unusual enough to keep even the most sophisticated reader awako while the rest of the world sleeps. " Straw?® Moon," - by J. S. Stribling (Hcineraann).