A DELIGHTFUL STUDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

A DELIGHTFUL STUDY

THE ENGLISH CHARACTER Every now nnd then in the welter of publishers' offerings one comes across a book, seemingly unpretentious, which suddenly takes on the shape of an oasis in a literary desert. Such a one is " England, Their England," by A. G. Macdonell, an inspection of which proves that about it there is not the slightest suspicion of mirage. No sooner does one reach the end than one hurriedly turns back to sample again some of the hundreds of delightful passages in this most delightful book, " England, Their England" is a study in story form of English life and characteristics. A young Scot comes to London to write a book on the English and the story concerns his search for material. With Donald Cameron, the seriously-minded but intensely romantic young Scot, we attend a fashionable week-end house party, a gem of a village cricket match, a rich and Bplendid golf course, a disarmament conference at Geneva and a country house set in the rural boauty of Buckinghamshire. The lighter touch is kept uppermost, but behind Sir. Macdonell's running fire of good humour there is a wealth of shrewd observation and he makes out a very strong case for his conclusion that the English are a race of " kindly, laughter-loving warrior-poets." It is hard to say which is the most delightful of Donald Cameron's experiences. The village cricket match is a gem of burlesque and there is some glorious 6atire in the description of British diplomacy at Geneva. Here is a typical passage, describing a session of a League of Nations committee: " The president, who had just reached the Seventh Heaven, nodded and smiled. The Yugo-Slav burst into tears of emotion. The New Zealander called across to tho South African, ' For Heaven's sake let's go and have one. These swobs make me sick,' and the two stalwart colonials marched out, followed hastily by the Australian." In sketching characters Mr. Macdonell is just as proficient as in describing incidents. There are at least half-a-dozen clever caricatures of wellknown figures in the literary world of London, while others, such as the ingenious Mr. Huggins, or Hougins, the poet, Mr. Harcourt, and a übiquitous little Yorkshire mechanic, are joyous creations. The book is by no means restricted in its appeal and even in its more serious and visionary moments is one of the finest of its type ever published. " England. Their England," by A. G-. Macdonell. (Macmillan.)