BOOKS OF THE DAY: HOLIDAY READING FOR ALL MOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 2

BOOKS OF THE DAY: HOLIDAY READING FOR ALL MOODS

TTNDER the joint editorship of Professor Yandell Elliott and Mr. H. Duncan Hall a number of experts have produced a book entitled ''The British Commonwealth at War" (Alfred A. Knopf. New 'York). It is an indispensable work to those anxious to assess the contribution to victory of the United Kingdom and the Dominions and to understand the methods of co-operation employed by the members of the British Commonwealth of Xations. Professor Elliott, of Harvard, suggests that an ;lionest assessment of the war effort of the Commonwealth, in order that Americans may judge their own responsibilities and what lies ahead of them to secure victory, is essential in the formulation of American victorv. It will come as a surprise to most New Zealanders that the professor also claiipa that an understanding of the Empire's war effort and what it means "will do wore than any other single thing to allay the real anger and anguish that we as a people felt in seeing Singapore go do\yu_and in judging the British at fault. The book suffers rather than gains bv a bulky chapter written by exLhancellor Brucniug on wartime administration in Germany and Great ijritain. Its place could have been bet-

ter taken by a much fuller treatment, of Eire and by some discussion of the war work of the Crown Colonics. The chapter on New Zealand is written by Professor Wood, of Victoria College, Wellington. The book is well produced, scholarlv and well documented.

For Young Hearts "Peter Churchmouse," by Margot Austin (.Dent), is a fascinating book for the young in heart. It tells of the efforts of Peter to make Parson PeasePorridge, such a delightfully plump, jolly person, realise it was not a rat that inhabited his church but a poor, hungry little cliurchniouse. Peter nibbles big holes first in the hymn books, then in the collection plate and later even the parsdn's sermon. Then Gabriel comes on the scene and all but steals Peter's thunder. "Are you a cat?" asks Peter, trembling. "No," sighs the adorably fluffy Gabriel, "I'm only a kitten!" Peter's relief knows no bounds and soon he and the cnddleaome Gabriel are planning new ways of attracting the short-sighted parson's attention. How they finally achieve this makes entertaining reading. The illustrations by the author are quite irresistible. Farming in Essex "No Rain in Those Clouds," by David Smith (Dent), is no ordinary farm record, nor is it a tedious biography. It tells in a charming and entertaining way of the life and farming experiences of the author's father from 1862 to the

present day. John Smith is of Essex stock and has farmed near Chelmsford all his life. His son's account covers schooldays at Hunt's School, lively descriptions of village scenes, market days, the weather, harvesting and finally the effect of the war on rural Knglnnd. "No Rain in Those Clouds" will appeal to all. especially those interested in the life on the land, The book is generouslv illustrated with line drawings by J. iv. Popliam. Mr. Paul Tabori The cosmopolitan City of London, temporary refuge of tho United Nations, has inspired Mr. Paul Tabori's latest book, "They Came to London." which might be described as fiction based on fact. There are 11 episodes and 11 different nationalities. The men come to London to take part in the fight against the Axis Powers, from France, Poland, and the other oppressed countries of Knrope, from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, even from China and America, and their stories have a great range of experience. Mr. Tabori has an extensive knowledge of Europe and the hackgrounds liave colour and verisimilitude. (Hodder and Stoughton.)

Appealing Creations -"Trust in the Springtime," by Oriel Ma let (Faber), would be easy to dismiss ns a sentimental tale about conventional characters. Jt is; but there te more to it than that. .-Miss .Mulct is a new young writer with a delicate touch, who is able to convey some of the anxious wonder of youth. The scene is an academy of dancing, and the events are crowded into one spring day—a day that means little to the outside world, but a great deal'to the students. Linda, a wistful, charming creature on the eve of her career, and Serena, a child filled with poets' dreams, are appealing creations. Miss Malet's next book will be awaited with interest. Fight for Freedom "Why Norway?" by Fridtjof; "Hitler's New, Kaiser's Old Order," by Curt Clever; and "Versailles, Statistical Truth." by K. I<\ Bieligk, are Fipjht lor Freedom publications from Hutchinson. These inexpensive pamphlets are excellent propaganda, informative, historically sound and well documented. The material might well have filled larger books.