A LITERARY CORNER

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 11

A LITERARY CORNER

(R.A.L.)

"MY LIFE STORY" Arthur Lynch. (John Long, London.) ; This is. the storv of Colonel Lynch, who acquired fame and notoriety as a I oclonel in the service of the Boers against us in the South African war, and later became a colonel in the . British army during the great war - . These facts are notable, for between, them the colonel was tried for high treason, and l sentenced 1 by a British Court of Justice. He was sentenced to death: how his sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life, and how he was eventually pardoned and freed from all the oivil consequences of his sentence, are told in this book. It is a pleasant book to read, a clever book of ancedote and shrewd' sketches cf character, and the breezy speculations about all things and sundry others which are aipt to be covered by the pens of writers who are always and always running the ink over the written page. Born at Smythesdale, near Ballarat. Colonel Lynch is an Australian of mixed Irish and Scottish parentage, in the latter connection a descendant of the great Rob ®oy, tells us in his narrative. Melbourne University marie him a man of letters. Travel and London journalism made him an author of novels and; essays and philosophical works. When the Boer war broke out. ho sided with, the enemy, not because he was Irish and wanted to strike a Mr the Irish cause, but on the same general grounds as influenced; Lloyd George to champion the Boer cause. Ho. however, went 'further In his chamipionahip, and joined the Boer armies in the field, and fought through a good deal of the campaigns of that troubled time. His graphic pen has here given a fascinating account of the fighting. The temper of the man is shown jn his comments on the end of tlje war. With all his admiration for the Boers—which was not increased by what he saw of them in the field—and for their cause, he 'blamed them in his heart for their surrender, evidently thinking that they ought to have fought on to some bitter end, or till helped by some strong Power, or the unexpected turn of circumstance. On the personal question he touches firmly, butwith commendable lightness. It is. cf Dourse, beyond question that in making their terms at Vereerdging the Boer leaders ought to have provided for the immunity of all the foreigners who fought on their side. They tried 1 to do that. But as the British chiefs were anxious to secure tho ratification of tho treaty the Boer leaders —Botha, Stavutfi, end the others—took their assuranoe—of Roberts and Kitchener—that there was no intention to prosecute any of these people, and that as a matter of fact no one would be prosecuted. Had they insisted on making the matter Secure by its inclusion in the treaty the colonel would never have been prosecuted. Naturally he -blames the Boer chiefs for weakness in the episode. After his release he goes back to his literary pursuits, and when the Great War came he, acting on his own judgment, whioh approved the Allied side cf the business, tried hard to join the British forces, and in turn those of Franoe and Haly, but found his past bad blocked Hie way. Neverthmess he entered into Secret Service of England, and to this experience many interesting chapters of the book are one. During the war he entered the Honse of Commons for the constituency whioh had elected him before the Government thought fit to prosecute him- After hip release he found the Nationalißijg and clericals against him, nut was elected in spite of their bitterest opposition. His experiences as member are as interesting, though slightly vain-glorious, as those of his diplomatic service and Boer campaigns. His service in Ireland as colonel in the British army, commissioned to recruit a uni to and take it to the front, are cot the least interesting of his adventures. It was after the rebellion of 1916. and the revival of the Sinn Fein, and the Irish were in no mood for such overtures as he took to them; as he shows in his account of the narrow escape he had from a (gowd of 20,000 Dubliners who came to his meeting of recruiting not to hear but to “doohoo” him: He avers, however, that if the Government—which i he very amusingly charges with 1 the usual Castle ineptitude—had given him a free hand, he would have succeeded in his work and reconciled the two nations by the prowess of the Irish Boldiers he would have led against the common enemy. From this it will he realised that the Colonel is one of the most sanguine of men. Hie. portrait shows a man fearless, determined, and very handsome. His book will well repay reading. “A LIFE’S AMBITION” AND "MY ODYSBEY” Alexandre Dumas. (Stanley Paul, London.) Dumas left- us, not recently, to say the least, a literary legacy, ahdl these Une .the first translations of the two works here mentioned, into English. And very well, we may remark, they axe translated. The books are edited by the veteran, R. S. Garnett, who has done more for the lit. erartiuire of the world than any man living, for the purpose of both bird’s eye viewing and deep study. As his custom is, this editing is a great (success. The first of the books, “A Life’s Ambition,” was first published in serial fashion—“feuilleton”—in Dumas’ journal, “Le Mousquetaire”—under the title of “Une Vie d’Artiste.” In this book i 3 a characteristic dialogue between Dumas and the “artiste,” giving the reasons for the storting of “Le Mousquetaire.” In this Dumas dcdares that we call ourselves d’Artagnun, and our friends are Athos, Porthos, and Ararnis. Which explains the fever of expectation in Paris as soon as it was known that Dumas had returned' to Paris and was about to finish publication of his memoirs by way of journalism. The “Mousquetoiie” appeared duly on November 12th, 1853. It teceived the warmest welcome.’ Paris was recovering from the “coup d’etat,” Lamartine, Michelet-, Sue, and Hugo were in exile, but here was Dumas back again, and the heart of Paris went out to its celebrated author. Great men wrote in their various fashions. Thus for example Lamartine: You ask my opinion of your journal —I have one on things human. 1 have none on miracles. Tou are superhuman. My opinion of you is a mark of exclamation. You have created- perpetual astonishment. Adieu! Live —that is to say write. I am here to read. And thus Victor Hugo: T read your paper. You restore us Voltaire. Supreme consolation for gagged and humiliated France. “A. Life’s Ambition” is the life of a famous actor, and will repay reading to-day for its skilful treatment and' the very interesting information it i gives of the things of tho French stage during the classic times in whioh Dv mas the Elder made such a name fohimself. : Hn “My Orlvssov.” is the story of’ I his dealings with the theatre. “It is,” I

snvs Mr Garnett, the editor nrd translator, “in France that the boob will ibe appreciated most. for its revelations about himself and certain of his plays, and for its curious information about the Cbmedie Francaise green rooms. French critics recognise, in particular, that Dumas portrait of the greatMars —that autocrat in petticoats as someone has described her—is perfect. But indeed, the whole Odyssey is a marvellous record. The publication of these two volumes’ will be most welcome to all the many lovers of the great French author and playwright.