THE BOOKSHELF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21882, 18 August 1934, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOKSHELF

CHINESE TESTAMENT YOUNG MAN IN CHINA The story of a young Chinese revolutionary told, to and set down by a Russian teacher of new doctrines sounds highly inflammatory, but is in effect a fascinating study of China through the mind of a young and intelligent Chinese student, a representative of new ideals and mental processes, and an intimate picture of Chinese middle-class life in the provinces. Tho narrator, Tan Shih-liua, was born in a hotbed of revolt. His father was the leader in his province of the rebellion against the Manchu dynasty, and the family were alternately on the crest of a wave of power and going in terror of their lives and in danger of starvation. The Chinese are a very old culture, but they have run in such different grooves of convention from Western civilisation that they often seem to have the simple minds of children.

This naivete has not been lost#in translation. . Their superstitions and primitive beliefs remain and their ability to see clearly through Western fallacies where their own thought lias not similarly erred. Though heredity made Tan a revolutionary, .his heart was set on a studious life, with a bent toward literature and poetry, and he broke away from his inland province to attend the University of Peking, where he came in contact with M. Tretiako, to whom, with much questioning, he related his story. It was here that he bought himself a pair of spectacles, as he candidly confesses, to make himself look learned.

Tan was ill-supplied with money for the unexpectedly expensive life of a city, but no matter how poor the family was his uncles always seemed able to organise loans for study, and from somewhere the money came. Always Tan was close to the dangerous game of revolution, in tho atmosphere of intrigue and betrayal. At the age of 26 he went to Moscow to study military science, but, sensing his imminent danger, he disappeared into China, and has not been heard of since. Like his father he is officially "dead." This brief outline would convey the impression that the book is mostly political, but its chief charm and interest lies in the picture of the aims and aspirations of young, intelligent China, and even more of the everyday life and customs of the Chinese provinces and at the Universities. Tan was married against his will to a woman about whom he is brutally frank, according to Western ideas. Of marriage, he says " one must be a very good athlete to go through the exhausting test of this Chinese ceremony. A Chinese funeral is not for weaklings either, and the description of the execution of fifty rebels is decidedly a, purple patch. During one of his father's flights, Tan was placed m a monastery for a year and lived in close contact with the Buddhist monks. It will be seen that " Chinese Testament," whose sub-title is " Young Man in China," covers a varied field, covers it faithfully and vividly, and gives a revealing picture of much that is unusual and difficult to come by in a country which is attracting ever increasing attention. It has been deservedly recommended by both tho Book Guild and Book Society. "Chinese Testament." autobiography of Shih-hua, as told to S. Iretinko. ; (Gollancz.)

! BEHIND THE SCENES THE AUTHOR OF " FACADE " Most novel readers have few illusions concerning the so-called private lives of actors and actresses, jjo when an author invites his public behind the scenes, that public knows what it means. Miss Theadora Benson b readers are forewarned; her theme is already a little jaded, although it must be admitted that it still seems to hold attraction for both writers and readers. Miss Benson has a facile pen and her characters behave with a naturalness that makes them absurdly like other humans. Perhaps actors and actresses are not a race apart after all r' Vai Mellon, the heroine, is a variety artiste, whose claim to fame comes through her husband, who has the luck to be acclaimed a star. Val is sweet, good natured and happily married, which are obviously not the qualities to make her successful as a heroine. She lacks personality and her position of centre stage throughout the book is overworked. Val's happy domesticity is the envy of her circle, but the careless criticism of a chorus girl's beau bows a seed of hatred which later plays havoc in Val a life She loses her husband's affection and, finding her position in his homo unbearable, she runs from one accommodating friend to another, and _so the reader sees the ambitions, jealousies, loves and loyalties of this little group of second-rate artists. As a background they are amusing enough, but for interest to be sustained the foreground calls for a more arresting personality than that of poor Val Mellon. " Facade," Miss Benson's earlier book, showed brilliant promise. "Concert Pitch" underlines the faults of her earlier book without fulfilling the promise. " Concert Pitch," by Theodora Benfson. (Gollancz.)

OXFORD GROUPS ROSE MACAULAY'S SATIRE Nothing will prevent those who delighted in Rose Macaulay's books fifteen years ago from seizing her latest book with great anticipations. Their disappointment is inevitable. " Going Abroad," in spite of the Rose Macaulayish title, is an unexpectedly mechanical piece of work to come iioni this writer's pen. She fakes that happy hunting ground of the novelist, an hotel, and there finds assembled, ready lor her pen, as varied a collection of visitors as her imagination chooses. Miss Macaulay's humour has even been contagious, her satire never less than refreshing; this time, however, the reader becomes perhaps a little' Victorian and " is not amused." A set of young Oxford "groupers " who invade the hotel draw the author's fire. They do make themselves a little ridiculous, as, smiling their Group smile, they go forth in search of souls. There is talk of Plan, of Purpose, of Sublimation, of Divine Guidance, of Surrender, of Courage to face up to circumstances and of being "Changed." They are perhaps in their great earnestness a little amusing, but not just in Miss Macaulay's way. A very unconvincing piece of kidnapping work and a minor theme in derision of beauty specialists does little to help tho book to a conclusion. It remains one of Miss Macaulay's weakest efforts, although the fact that it is the first novel to concern itself with the Oxford Groups may give it some distinction. " Going Abroad," by Rose Macaulay. (Collins.)