THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF.

jT UDY OF a TEMPERAMENT. "THE BROOME FAMILY. Clemence Dane has been the darling j the critics' hearts for a decade. She to have all tho gifts—orginality, technical skill and a rich and romantic imagination- Since the publication of "legend" s he has held her own. Her fltput has not been great, and she has often disappointed her public, but there • always the expectation in the air that jjiss Dane will justify herself some day by'writing something outstanding. This she gives her readers " Broome Stages/' a book which is so richly imagjnj,] that it disarms the critics. It . . t ]jg s torv of a temperament, traced through seven generations. That it is perhaps a little more than life size even g/jds to the pleasure of the uot-too-serious reader. The Broome family ruled the English theatre for two centuries. The reader is introduced to the founder of the family, one Kichard Broome, a come-by-chance, w ho had dealings with a witch, and who learned a spell that was responsible for the Broome charm. He fell in with a company of barnstormers and discovered in himself a passion for the stage. This romantic beginning has an early eighteenth century background. Through two centuries Miss Dane pursues the Broome temperament. The " Broome charm," the • " Broome rage," the "Broome calm."—all these traits become traditional. They are handed on from father to son, even as the genius for the theatre is handed on. There are actors, dramatists, or actor managers in every generation until tho present day is reached, when there is a Broome who is absorbed in the screen. It is curious and interesting to follow, in spite of the changes wrought by marriage, the original Broome .strain dominating again and again. Miss Dane has written an imaginary history as full of the very atmosphere of the theatre as it is of colour and romance. Sometimes the story is a little melodramatic and unreal, but tho charm and originality of Miss Dane's conception of a theatrical dynasty and the felicity of her writing give the reader much to be grateful for. " Broome Stages." by Clemence Dane. (Heinemann.) THEODORE DREISER. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Who is Dreiser, what is he, that the critics do commend him ? has been asked many times by English readers who are repelled by the quality of this writer's novels. " The American Tragedy " and " Jennie Gerliardt " have compelled our admiration, but there is rarely the iiiclination to explore further. The publication of " Dawn," the first volume of an autobiography which promises to be one of the longest yet written, wins even Ttsis spponents to his side. It proclaims "Mii Dreiser to be a power in the land oi literature, a force too compelling to resist. "Dawn" deals with the first twenty . years of. the author's life. His memory is amazing. Words pour from him in a never-ending stream. Nothing is forgotten—people, places, incidents, crowd the . pages. Mr.. Dreiser writes of himself, but his honesty and complete lack of egotism are qualities that claim the reader's eager admiration. This man is realT Everything he touches quickens and blooms beneath the delighted curiosity of the reader's eyes. Mr. Dreiser's father was a German who was unsuccessful in business life, but found comfort in reh'gion. He was a rigid Roman Catholic, and this circumstance was the fundamental cause of Theodore Dreiser's hatred of all forms of dogma. They were desperately poor, but the poor are very human, very real, and there is much that is absorbing in the details of their poverty. So smoothly does it read, so inevitably do people and events slip into just the right places, that one' might easily forget the supreme art of Mr. Dreiser which is behind this narrative. Having finished it and put it on one side, the magnitude of the author's task impresser/ one. Yet most assuredly it has been no task to Mr. Dreiser. Every page deepens the conviction that if ever an author enjoyed himself in writing a book that author is Mr. Dreiser. " Dawn," by Theodore Dreiser. (Conatable.) DONN BYRNE STORIES. "RIVERS OF DAMASCUS." This hook of stories entitled •" Rivers of Damascus," by the late Donn Byrne, though not reaching his usual standard, is full of that appeal which makes this author a best-seller The first demand a reader makes of a book is that it shall bold his interest. In this, " Rivers of Damascus" will prove thoroughly satisfactory. Donn Byrne is a born teller of tales. He has the quick sympathies and many charms' of the Irish temperament, and if his manner is on this occasion more important than his matter, the reader will more often than not find himself sn the least critical of moods. Here are set out a group of stories packed full of romance. Did someone say romance v ''as out of fashion ? Then here is a book that trill prove otherwise. A book in *'hich right always triumphs, evil is always punished, and the good are happy. L is not at all surprising to read of v.'omen who are angels, marvellously beautiful, both in soul and body. In the Wost natural way in the world, Donn Byrne puts woman back on her pedestal, a being to be worshipped; indeed, her chief interest is to redeem the less spiritual sex. This in the twentieth century! But then only Donn Byrne could inake one belie%'e it. The Irish, he would Ea y, are like that. Beautiful women in Ireland are angels, and beautiful horses come in for a little worship, too. The late Donn Byrne had undoubtedly a beguiling way oi' telling a story. " Rivers of Damascus,'' by Donn Byrne, (oanipsoii Low.)