A LITERARY CORNER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11737, 26 January 1924, Page 10

A LITERARY CORNER

(R.A.L.) “BY CAMEL AND CAR TO THE PEACOCK THRONE” Alexander Powell. (John Long, London.) Major Powell, who served in France during the Great War with the forces of his country, the United States, and has soveral famous books of Eastern travel to his credit, has devoted this hook, <f ßy Camel, etc.,” to the great mystery of the Arab countries severed ■from the Ottoman Empire. He does not follow tho example of the writer of the “Truth About Mesopotamia,’ ’ which waa recently reviewed in these columns, of presenting facts, leaving the reader to form his own conclusions. The major presents both facts and conclusions. His conclusions are that some day, perhaps not far off, Mustapha Kemal will reconquer these Arab countries, Cilicia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Palestine, sending the Emirs set up by the British and French to kingdom come, and sweeping Zionism off the earth. He declares that both French and British are hated by the whole of the Arab peoples, the former ‘ for their violent enforcement of treaty rights against Feisul; the latter for the treachery by which, he alleges, they secured the nominal settlement of Iraq and Transjordania, and what the natives regard as their unfair and uncalled for establishment of Zionism. Who shall correct ham of wrong? The “Times” reviewer laughs at him for the respect he paid to the Peacock Throne, said to be the great work of art brought back to Persia by Nadir Shah from the conquest of Delhi, but in reality a clumsy “fake.” But also does the reviewer show that in some matters of fact the major is wrong. On the other hand the facts presented by the writer of “The Truth About Mesopotamia” encourage the belief, with a little imagination, that these new Arab kingdoms must be swept away by some Power-ywhether Arab or Turk, the utiliser of his imagination, can choose for himself. But the inability of the Arab to perform any great operation is notorious. The Turk has just been set on his legs again, England and France have drifted hopelessly apart on their Near Eastern policies, and Kemal's armies are turning to begin the invasion. It i 3 on the cards that the victories of Maude and Allenby, the disaster at Kut, and the expenditure of many British lives and very many British millions in Mesopotamia and Palestine, will be proved to have been in vain. This unless there is another Great War. Even if there is, the best to be hoped for is the British retention of Palestine as a bulwark against attack on the Suez Canal. The worst — perhaps the question need not he answered. The major’s hook hae its traveller’s side, and that side is distinctly good. “ROBERT BROWNING” THE POT7T AND THE MAN. Frances M. Sim. Fisher Unwin, London. This addition to the voluminous Browning literature is welcome, by rea son of tile subject, which presents a great need for explanation. Browning’s lovers are all eager to have explanation of the mysteries which do not in the least abate their general enthusiasm. Mr Chesterton’s life was commissioned to do this clearing. But it failed by reason of its witty, helpful, interesting, fascinating digressions, because the book is a collection of digressions snowing the sub ject under. Tne author of “Personalia” did some service in this way, and others have made attempts. The pre sent author makes a most determined attempt, and her analysis of “Bordello,” described by Chesterton as “a thing of indescribable density,” will probably take rank as a real success. Even more may bo said of her analysis Of “Paracelsus.” With “Pauline Strafford” and the “Bells and Pomegranates,” she has hardly reached so high, but she is interesting always, and intensely sympathetic, and for this latter quality the lovers of Browning will take her to their hearts. Her chapters on the love story of the Brownings are very illuminating. “THE AMERICANISATION OF EDWARD B0K” Edward Bok. (Ch. Scribner and Sons, New York, per Ferguson and Osborn, Wellington.) This is the twenty-fifth edition, and obviously does not require much handling. It is an autobiography, written j as of one man by another, the biographed being km>t separate from the , biographer. The style has led to much criticism of the biographer as a proI nounced and rather enthusiastic egoist. For all that, it has been described as “next to Franklin’6 autobiography." As Bok is the man who made the “Ladies’ Home Journal,” the famous Philadelphia periodical, which has a circulation of two millions, carrying over a million dollars of advertisements, his story of how he did is of surpassing interest. And this book tells not only that story but the story of a vast number of vast activities connected with the famous journal, activities of domestic architecture revolutionised over great areas; of chastening reform of decoration in the carriages of many great "railway companies; of war work organised; of the decoration of public halls; and many other things of influence widely exerted. Not the least interesting is the chapt ’nr describing how many great writers of world fame were faduoed to publish their work in the magazine. It is all like a fairy story. FROM THE BODLEY HEAD, LONDON 1 ‘NARROW SEAS,” by Neville Brand. Narrow seas breed narrow men, and of 6uch are the skippers of the North Sea ports, and the men they control in their voyages to the German and Baltic ports. This narrowness can cause tragedy dire and awful, as this story very strongly shows. It gives a fine picture of the hard way these Humber and other skippers have to earn their living. Also of the clannishness of the lives about them. “8.8. OF ARDLEGAY,” by W. N. Ranesford. A murder story, with a very ingenious denouement, set in a fine description of rural life in East Anglia, with a dominating thread of love and jealousy. “LOVE CONQUERS ALL,” by R. Benchley. Mr Benchley leads the humour of America j at all events, make a good deal of it. “Love Conquers All” is a title that does not mean anything. But the salts, stories, sarcasms and reviews that make up the volume mean everything that happens in America, and lends itself to humorous treatment. The humour is sharp, vigorous, and its expression dean cut. “THE CREAM OF THE TEST,” by I. B. Cabell. Mr Cabell jests with life like a philosopher who is contest with what he

has, but enjoys greatly illusions about everything. “THE MINSTER,” by A. Legge. A great story centred in an old Cathedral close, round tbo Dean, a great mail and good if not quite orthodox churchman. Two cases of the ‘‘Eternal Triangle” make the story, and the author works it through with rare art and noble vision. “RUGGLES OF RED GAP,” by K. Leon Wilson. The “Snob” is a cosmopolitan. He is at home in .every country. Oceans, mountains, forests, do not stay his goings and comings, climate and national customs have no effect on his mental habit. Nature has bestowed on him as on the compass needle the unerring habit of pointing in one direction. With him the character is not geographic. It is wherever the great and titled of the earth are. Towards them he points, before them ho grovels, with them he loves to be, contemned generally, content always. Hence there are books of snobs. This is one of them. Ruggies of Red Gap is the author. A gentleman’s man he is, who would rather die than presume to be a gentleman. Versed in the social code of the snob, he has produced a vei-v readable story of snobbish life in the American town of “Red Gap.’’’ He knows manly men and womanly women when bo sees them, describing them well in tho course of his talc. But he cannot conceal his pity for these aberrations of independence, which ho deplores in a stilted pernikity style highly amusing, plentifully dashed as it is with a patronising tolerance for real worth which must be recognised in spite of its regrettable indifference to titles and its conspicuous neglect of “tufts.” which at times causes him real sorrow. The method of treating the snob is not of the scathing order made famous by Thackeray. It is nevertheless very effective, as every reader of this powerful book will readily acknowledge. He does not explicitly approve of the worship of the great, by snobs, but his attitude towards those who do not worship is the attitude most men adopt towards those who de secrate temples. ‘Tis a fine vein of satire. “THE ROAD TQ DELHI,” by R- I. * Minney. A powerful story depicting the life of the Indian masses, their credulity and their ignorance, and the work among them of agitators. The hero is a young Hindu, who having received kindness from the whites, is smitten by remorse in the midst of a hartal and undertakes a counter-movement, in the course of which he travels much, and is present at many dramatic happenings, which illustrate veiy well, thanks to the descriptive power of the author, the mental condition of the mass of the people. The time is the period of the visit of the Prince of Wales, and we learn much of the feeling of the people and the effect of the hartals, with danger of outbreak ever growing until the arrest of Ghandi startles discontent as with a clap of thunder into silence and quiet. A powerful, thoughtful contribution the story is to the study of the Indian problem. “THE WAY OF THINGS,” by Maud in isbet. _ A seoond novel. The lady’s first was “Many Altars,” which came near winning the £SOO competition prize offered by the above publishers. It is a fine story of South African and Sooth American life, full of character and incident, and very well written. “THE MISTAKE,” by G. G, Chatterton. An Irish story, vivid, brilliant, and in sympathy with the best qualities of the Irish character. “THE AMBITIONS OF JILL,” by May Wynne. A young man on the brink of • waterfall and suicide is rescued in. original fashion by a young girl, who, by jumping on a rock dangerously near the fall, forces him to rescue her. Both are .in trouble. They wander away; they agree to marry; and do eo, in dire poverty in a country village. The lady belongs to a great county family with a great county mansion. Extraordinary complications arise, of course, and these, with the help of some ex-cellently-drawn characters, make a delightful story. PoDular edition. “DIANA AND ‘ DESTINY,” by Charles Garvice. The immense output of this author is well known. This is an addition. Tho wide public he has annexed will certainly appreciate it. Mysteries, adventures, vicKsitudes, and the course of true love'running over the usual rough stones, all combined by the flowing Garvice art. Popular edition.