THE BOOKSHELF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF

FAMILY CHRONICLE " BREDON AND SONS" A disastrous storm opens Neil Bell's long novel, " Bredon and Sons." The ship-building premises are swept away and Bredon himself is fatally injured. On his death-bed his stubborn and defiant nature asserts itself. He demands to die in his boots and alone. He has his wish, and the next morning his eldest son, a boy of eighteen, but with all the Bredon traits already strongly developed, becomes head of the home. This novel is a study of three generations of the Bredon family. They have earned for themselves a reputation for the building of both seaworthy and beautiful ships. They have their times of affluence, but these times are followed by a gradual decline in the shipbuilding trade. The Bredons have always been fine craftsmen, but they entirely lack foreeight.', The business is dying, but pride forbids that they should admit it. They continue to apprentice their son? in spite of the fact that they themselves cannot earn a competence. The very idea of working under any other name, or of moving the home and business to a more progressive part of the coast, is repugnant to them. Now in the Bredon family there is a mixed strain. Regularly in each generation there is a black sheep, a gifted, handsome, charming scoundrel, who is the despair and pride of the honest Bredons. The first part of the book when the reader makes the acquaintance of the first generation of Bredons is interesting, but repetitions of the family characteristics become dull reading. Mr. Bell's novel is well constructed, but it seems to lack Inspirafatal defect in a long novel. " Bredon and Sons," by Neil Bell. (Collins.) - STRAW BUT NO BRICKS ABSURDITIES IN FILMDOM The King of Hohenburg-Ulm had many a time contrasted the financial straits to which his country was reduced with the prosperity of Hollywood, yet he saw too that Hollywood lacked something—its pageantry would have solidity if it were situated in a great capital, with the trappings of a brilliant court. So he persuaded a film magnate, Mr. Cohen, to his point of view, and Mr. Cohen, gathering his film stars on the way, went to Western Europe and became the greatest figure in Hohenburg. A good deal of the fun consists of where and why he gathered them, and how some of them tried to escape him and some thrust themselves upon him, and some were just cast by fate and their inner selves for the part —ladies' maids, artillerymen, cockney loafers, smart set darlings, dukes, everything he touches turns to gold. There is no absurdity of whimsicality at -which Mr. Marcus Cheke baulks in his gay trifle " Hide and Seek." His style if is neat, smooth and competent; he builds up a situation to perfection, and then he wantonly turns his back on ft. His scaffolding is elaborate and pleasmg to the' eye, but no building grows behind it. He would be invaluable to a collaborator with a little invention. Alone, he builds a series of exquisite but 'empty packing cases. Ti,me , and again he rears himself to strike at the pomps and follies of the blight young people of Mayfair; then he repents and leaves them to their folly. Which is a pity, because he has i delightful sense of humour, and . a graceful style. " Hide and Seek," by Marcus Cheke. Collins.) WAT TYLER'S REBELLION ' h JUNIOR BOOK CLUB CHOICE There have been of late too few tales of a'ction, of kingly deeds, of the clash of swords, and might aiding right to get its deserts. If one would knowhow two young cousins, journeying from /their convent school to take over their inheritance, fell in with Wat Tyler's insurgents and were compelled to travel with them, how they learned of the common people's wrongs and sympathised with many of them, how they had a midnight adventure with John Ball the preacher, how they saw the historic meeting between the King and Wat Tyler at Smithfield, how they prevented civil war, and came under the notice and protection of King Richard himself, and how he sent them on a secret embassage, and they were set upon by cut-throats and saw white magic', and came into their inheritance at' last, is it and much more not told by Mr. L. A. G. Strong in " King Richard's Land "? It is primarily a story for boys, but might easily engage the attention of adults. Mr. Strong is careful to show both sides of the picture, /the cruelty and injustice of the ruling classes, but the greed and intolerance of the rabble, too. His boys certainly have an instinct for obtaining the entry to high' places, but the presence /f of the King and other notable persons was necessary, and their engagement with the story is plausible enough. Mr. Strong's estimate of the King's character is higher than history bears out. " King Richard's Land." by L. A. G. Strong'. (Dent.) GEORGE MOORE •/. A STUDIO SKETCH George Moore has been acclaimed the greatest prose writer of the day. A large majority accept the valuation, yet how few there are who sincerely delight in his books. When the great names of modern literature enrich the conversation how rarely it is that George Moore takes his place. Yet at regular intervals one vows one will read him seriously. It is a vow that is invariably broken. Then comes this little monograph of Humbert Wolfe's. I had meant, because I had believed it to be true, to present a picture of a man whose relentless literary integrity had made him one of the most misunderstood figures of any time." How attractive this sounds to the venturesome reader! Exciting, too, because/at once there seems a possibility of understanding. It is, however, a false hope, for Mr. Humbert Wolfe, in spite of his devotion to George Moore, both as a man and as an artist, makes no revelation. The reader is stranded more or less on the outskirts. The author's literary fireworks embarass and confuse the reader who would have been won by a more simple manner. It seems that after all there is nothing toydo but await the certain pleasure of Mr. Charles Morgan's biography. " George Moore." by Humbert "Wolfe. (Thornton Butterworth.)