THE BOOKSHELF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF

" BESIDE GALILEE " MR. BOLITHO IN PALESTINE To Mr. Hector Bolitho, tho author to f "Beside Galilee," a New Zealander, "the reviewer devotes his fullest attention. He is not oasily impressed, but ' Mr. Bolitho has within recent years published two outstanding biographies—- ' a life of Prince-Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, and a life of Lord Molchett. These two studies have earned Mr. Bolitho a reputation. His diary " Be- , s j,3 o Galilee "is thereforo all the moro likely to attract attention. For readers who hope to see Mr. Bolitho at his best the diary will be disappointing. " Shivering in a physical sensation of anti-Semiticism," Mr. Bolitho goes to Palestine for the purpose of understanding the .Tews in what they describe as their " own country." He reads pamphlets galore and listens day after day to both Jew and Arab complaining about each other, and about British administration in Palestine. He sets down a great deal just as it comes to him from angry partisans of both communities. Tliero. is a great deal of pretty writing but little that might satisfy a reader genuinely interested in tho Jewish question. He admits that his sympathy leans toward the "drowsy Moslems." " 'The Arab would steal your watch as soon as look at you,' whispered tho Jew next to me. Maybe. I would sooner have my watch stolen by somebody I liked than have it left in my pocket by somebody I did not like," says Mr. Bolitho. .Well, well! , On the other hand, anyone interested , in the personality of Mr. Bolitho will find his diary revealing enough. This author has many talents but his lack of sincerity, and fiddling preoccupations .with his portrait of self as a temperamental young man, rules him out from serious artistic consideration. At best " he is perceptive and amusing—very amusing—although too often the reader's amusement is marred by impatience with Mr. Bolitho's mannerisms.. As for instance, his concluding burst of confidence when he tells low he wrote this diary for himself. " It seemed so personal that I did not .wish to see it in print! " . " Galilee." by Hector Bolitho. (Cobden-Sanderson.) A SOLEMN FARCE YELLOW-HAIRED HEROINE If, as appears probable, " Describe a Circle," by Martin Hare, is a satire on all that is banal in second-rate pictures and third-rate novels, it is very amusing. It is vso unmistakably true to type. The heroine is a yellow-haired •iren with green eyes and an olive back, who idles her time away in a shop, has the proprietor for a lover, a male mannequin for a friend, and a plain, blunt man for a future husband, an Irish countess for a mother, and £50,000 for A dowry. Why she works J; in a shop where she dislikes and is disliked by everybody remains a profound lecret. Nq one, lea,st of. all the reader, Js at . ill surprised when, on the evo- of an amateur dramatic performance, the leading lady falls down the stairs into a waiting ambulance, and tho greeneyed one sweeps through her part to a veritable triumph. , Though of perfect taste and deportment herself, she condescends to accept meals and favours from a common littlo bagman, who, however, " emanated a mysterious male essence," to still the aching void and restlessness that fills hor life. By way of compensation, and to exhibit her innate breeding, she usually yawns in people's faces at parting. At other times she throws out her chest and declaims in the good old-fashioned way. " Any woman who married you on those terms would bo. a cad," she cries, and then surprisingly refuses his offer. After a storm of weeping the woman looks in the glass and is appalled by it. She hurries to the male mannequin and crys, " If you chi*ck mo now I haven't got a soul in the world." But she had • forgotten tho solid doctor. _ " A man needs a womart like you in his life," ho says with as miich weight as if he were pronouncing a diagnosis. Ho was •wrong, as the mannequin was delighted to tell him by prattling somo early liis*r tory. Exeunt omnes, and the curtain fall's on a farce which affords the reader much innocent merriment. Only to avoid mistakes it would be well if authors would label their products. " Describe ,a Circle." by Martin Hare, •i- {lTcinemann.) NEW ZEALAND SETTING THE NAPIER EARTHQUAKE The degree of warmth of welcome to l)e accorded to now literary enterprises in our midst depends first upon the aims of tho promoters and, secondly, on tho manner ill- which those aims are carried out. The Associated New Zealand Authors' Publishing Gompanj, Auckland, state 011 the dust cover that their aim is " to search out the genuine literary metal within our shores. J hat is fair enough. Kvery New Zealander will applaud such a worthy undertaking. Evidently the new company believes in the old adage, "first catch your hare," for in Tts first publication, "Restless Earth," by W. GraemeHolder, it sets out to catch that great body of public which has had its taste formed by silent and talking films, it is fitting that there should bo a colourful New Zealand setting, and the Napier earthquake affords a natural, opportunity for drama and narrative description. In his lively story, Mr. GraemeHolder uses ail the passions—that dinicult medium, heart interest, being tnero in abundance. It takes a good deal to daunt him. , His vamp is a sleek ultrablonde. nltra-everything girl, who w e,l t to New Plymouth to start a branch of an Auckland Jewish firm of modistes. But that pales into insignificance beside the daring feat of his hero, who has '' flimbed into wealth and society 111 New Plymouth by means of writing books. To an author with such amazing gusts of imagination 110 heights should be impossible. The book, which is sold at ® low price, is neatly bound and printed, though possibly a little better paper would be preferable when the 6eries aims at permanent value. , " Restless Earth," by W. Graeme-Holder. (Assoeintod N.Z. Authors' Publishing t.0.. 'Auckland.) '