Books and Writers

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 16

Books and Writers

CORNISH TALES Although the majority of Mr. Charles Lee'S' "Cornish Tales" (Dent) were first published a generation ago, they have qualities which betoken long life; good writing with an occasional sparkle, an unobtrusive design, a gentle and scholarly humour, and, not least, the nicest" precision in portraiture. Here you will find two long and four shorter sketches, with a preface by "Q," who pays a tribute to Mr. Lee which his new readers will be very ready to endorse. . .

' Miss Daphne du Marnier If "Frenchman's Creek," by Daphne du Mauricr (Gollancz), lacks the fino drama, unusual portraiture, and crashes of surprise which deservedly carried its author's _ "Rebecca" to world-wide success, it is romance of an enjoyable and most picturesque kind. Theatrical it may be —it cries aloud for immediate transfer to stago and screen—but Miss du Maurier knows bow to tell an, exciting tale, and in Dona St. Columb she has a heroine who is bound to make thousands of friends in spite of her somewhat questionable behaviour. "The Shadow Rider" Full of action is "The Shadow Rider," by William Colt Maedonald (Hodder and Stougliton). Dale Stephens, "otherwise known as the Gila Shadow," sets out 011 a quest for a missing man and a hidden treasure. His search leads him to a Mexico where gun-battles, torture, imprisonment and executions are daily risks. From the first headlong running fight at the "Golden Cactus" restaurant to the final stock-whip duel between Santiago and El Gato the story never flags.

By PHILEMON

As We Are "New Zealand Now," by Oliver Dufi (Department of Internal Affairs), is the latest of the New Zealand Centennial surveys, in summarising the value of our hundred-year effort the author 'deals little with facts and figures, which, as he says, can be obtained at will from the Year Book. But what he has to say, 011 our manners and customs, 011 our people, on our tendencies, he says capably and neatly. Auckland, tor instance, lives and thrives on "the short-circuited economy of the dairy farm itself—grass to-day, cream tomorrow, and your cheque at the end of the month." If this is the last of the series it is a satisfying finale. For the Housewife A valuable collection of pudding recipes, one for every day in the year, has just been published by Wliitcombe and Tombs, Limited. Compiled by a New Zealand housewife experienced in all modern methods of cooking, it contains three hundred and sixty-live different recipes arranged in correct seasonal sections with cool, refreshing delicacies for warm days and piping hot dishes for winter months. There is, also, a special section for Christinas puddings and sauces. "365 Puddings" is a handbook that will be helpful to every New Zealand housewife. Picture and Verse A quaint tale in picture and verse is "My Little Book of Swallows," by a Czech writer, Frederick /)st. First published privately in England last year and dedicated ,to the English children, it was accepted by _ Her .Majesty the Queen as a gift to Princess Elizabeth and Princess .Margaret Rose. With a few skilful strokes of the pen the author creates an ingenious impression of birds flying over housetops or resting 011 trees' and _ these clever pictures alone will give children endless amusement. (Harry H. Tombs, Ltd.) Original Idea There is an original idea in the "Shadow Crusade," by Woosnam Mills (Hodder and Stougliton); the blind Sir .John llowden sets up a secret organisation to counteract Nazi activities, propaganda and otherwise, in the Netherlands (before the avowed Nazi invasion, of course). Party Fun An inexpensive handbook brimful of fun and frolic for festive occasions is "Moro Fun at Your Party," by Harloquin (A. H. and A. W. Reed). Games that are new and old ones in fresh disguise, competitions, brain-teasers, surprises and "stunts," comic interludes — all that goes to make a really lively party will be found in these pages. Brain-Teasers "A 'Puzzle Mine," by .7. Trovers (Nelson) contains 350 mathematical, diagrammatic and brain-teasing puzzles foileded by the late H. Dudeney. Hero is useful ready-made entertainment for either the solitary or the social I hour.