LITERARY GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 27

LITERARY GOSSIP.

The first volume of Dr. E. Westermarck’s new work on “The l Origin arid Development of Moral Ideas” is nearly ready. It will be published by Messrs Macmillan.

Messrs Swan, Sonnenschein will shortly publish “The New Sketch Book” containing a collection of essays by Thackeray originally published anonymously and now first collected. Mr Fisher Unwin will presently issue “The History of 00-operatibn” by the late G. J. Holyoake. This is a revised and practically re-written edition of a book published twenty years ago. It brings the history of the subject up to present times. The British edition of the “Atlantic Monthly” is now issued by Messrs Archibald Constable and Co. the price being Is per number net, or 15s per year, post free.

Sir Theodore Martin is devoting the ninetieth year of his life to the pre-

paration of a volume of revised articles contributed by him in past years to various review's and periodicals.

■ The “Financial Review of Reviews” is a new monthly magazine which should be of special interest to business men. The February number hag an article by Mr W. Pember Reeves on New Zealand Corporation Stocks. The yearly subscription is 10s and subscribers “are entitled to special information by coupon.” Those who v'ant a straight-forward history of Ireland, political and economical, from the earliest times to the present should obtain Professor Goldwin Smith’s “Irish History and the Irish Question,” published by T. C. and E. 0. Jack at ss.

Mr John Foster Fraser lias in preparation another book of travel and observation which is to be called “Pictures from the Balkans.” It will bo presently published by Messrs Cassell. “In a Tramp Camp,” by Bart Kennedy, is another book which Messrs Cassell have in hand. It recounts personal experiences of the author during his career as a casual labourer in the United States.

Max Nordau has completed a book “On Art and Artists,” which reviews the work of modern painters and sculptors. It w r ill be published in English by Mr Fisher TJnwin.

“The First Annexation of the Transvaal,” by Dr. Leyds, formerly secretary to President Kruger, w'ill probably prove to be a historical work of standard importance. It is said •to be based on official documents and Bluebooks, mostly English, and will bo published by Mr Fisher Unwin.

Two books on Evolution in its religious aspects will be published by Messrs Methuen tills month, one* by. the Rev. Vernon F. Storr, Lecturer on tho Philosophy of Religion in Cambridge University, entitled “Development and Divine Purpose,” and the other by Dr. F. B Jovons, entitled “Religion in Evolution”—a series of lectures delivered in the vacation term for Biblical, study at Cambridge. In Mr Storr’s book the argument from Design as set forth by Paley and criticised by Darwin is examined and restated. In Dr. Jevon’s book the question whether the aborigines of Australia are in a pre-religious stage is discussed.—“ Times.” Mr G. Bernard Shaw has an article on “Tho Election” in the “Clarion” of February 2, which, apart from its politics, is well worth reading as an example of that eccentric genius at his journalistic beet. The concluding paragraph is characteristic. “They have no guarantee whatever that the new Labour Party will be anything more than a nominally Independent Trade Unionist and Radical group. I apologise to the Universe for my connection with such a party.” Another Byron controversy! Lord Lovelace’s recent book, which has been generally oondomned by all the British critics, will be replied to in the “Monthly Review” by Mr John Murray. Mr Murray, will, however, confine himself to that part of the volume which refers to the historic associations of his house with the poet. Messrs Chatto purpose adding Tame's ‘History of English Literature” to their pocket “St. Martin’s Library.” Tho work, the first English edition of which appeared in 1865, will appear in four volumes.

Messrs Constable are bringing out Mrs Langloh Parker’s volume on aboriginal life in Australia, “The Eualilayi Tribe.” “No introduction to Mrs Langloli Parker’s book,” says Mr Andrew Lang in contributing one, “can bo more than that superfluous ‘bush’ which, according to the proverb, good wine does not need.” Messrs J. M. Dent and Co. are initiating tho publication of a new shilling library of world’s literature to consist of 1060 volumes on best paper well bound aud in some cases illustrated. Some of the books will run to 700 pages. The series will be edited by Mr Ernest Rhys. The library will bo divided into sections as follows: —Biography, children’s books, classical, essays, belles lettres, fiction, history, philosophy and theology, poetry and drama, romance, science and travel. Each volume will have a specially written introduction by a present day authority. The library will appear at tho rate of 100 volumes per year. The size of the pages will be 7in. by 4lin.

Among new fiction announced by various publishers tho following should be worth looking out for.—“ The Far Horizon,” by Lucas Malet; “The Gambler,” by Mrs Thurston; “For which. Wife,” by the author of Lady Beatrix; “The Red Seal,” (a story of the notorious Judge Jeffries) by Morice Gerard; “Number One Hundred and One,” by Wymond Carey; “The Paradise of the Wild Apple,” by Richard le Gallienne; “The Lapse of Vivien Eady,” by Charles Marriott; “Bardleys, the Magnificent,” by R. Sabatini; and “The Blue Peter,” by Morley Roberts.