LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11934, 7 January 1901, Page 3

LITERARY NOTES.

— Mr S. E. Kiser litis produced a book entitled "Georgie," which aims at combining the charm of Mr Dooley with the simplicity and freshness of "A Bad Boy s Diary. Ie book repeats the former's humorous philosophy under the guise of a small boy 8 thoughts, and will be published- by Mr Fisher Unwin shortly. \ . — A humorous novel by the Mark Twain of Russia should bo interesting, and attract considerable attention. Nicholas A. .ueyken enjoys the reputation of being the ' Mark Twain," and one of his books, entitled "Where the Oranges prow," will be published by Messrs Greening and Co. — "Plotters of Paris" is the title of 41r Edmund Mitchell's new story announced fov immediate publication by Messrs Hutchinson and Co. It deals with some rather sensational phases of Parisian life, and fch© who lives in Paris, treats of the spy system, Anarchist conspiracies, militarism, gutter journalism, and so forth. — Messrs Hutchinson and Co. commenced to publish ill October, in fortnightly parts at a poular price, a work which tliey have had in preparation for over four years, entitled "The Living Races of Mankind," a popular account of the customs, habits, pursuits, ■feasts, and ceremonies of the races of mankind throughout the world. • —Messrs Hutchinson and Co. will publicli immediately a story by Ambrose Pratt, a new Australian writer, under the title of "King of the Rocks," the "Rocks" being a society of Sydney roughs, and the hero of the story their leader. Soma novel adventures arc introduced, and it is claimed that in his hero the author has drawn quite a new character.

— Messrs Blackie announce "The Story of Don Quixote," retold by Judge Parry, and illustrated by Mr Walter Crane. It is an abridgement of Cervantes's immortal work. As much of the wisdom and humour of the discourse of knight and squire as may be within the grasp of young people is given in simple form. It is to young people that Judge Parry directly appeals, but.perhaps older readers who do not know Don Quixote may be led by this volume to make his acquaintance. — George J. Pinwell was perhaps the most important eolourist of that little hand of water-colour artists who flourished in the sixties, and threo of whom—Walker, Houghton, and Pinwell—died in the course "f th" year 1875. His widow has recently allowed

Dr Williamson to compile an authoritative acount of hor husband's life and work, and he has added to it much information from other sources. It will lie published shortly, under the title of "Pinwell and his Works," by George Bell and Sons. — Mr W. Carew Hazlitt's "History of the Venetian Republic," which was published 40 years ago, and lias long; been out of print, is about to bo re-issued by Messrs A. and C. Black, not as a new edition, but as an almost entirely new work, having undergone in the long interval a thorough process of recension, ro-arraugomcnt, and augmentation, so as not only to brinT down the historical narrative itself for the first time to the close of Venetian independence, but to expand the sections relating to social and economical institutions. Advantage has been taken of all the most recent discoveries illustrative of the career of Venice as a State; aud a leading result of the new undertaking, as it claims to be, is to show that the Republic was, in fact, the greatest European Empire between Rome and Great Britain, and not merely a rich and. powerful commercial city.' — A "Lifo of Francis Farkman," tho historian of Canada, lias been written by Mr C. H. Farnham, and published by tho Macmillan Company. Parkman.was an odd typo of the literary jnen, half-sportsman, half-stu-dent equally keeu in the pursuit of buffaloes arid manuscripts. His experiences of travels among the Indians, undertaken to obtain a clear knowledgo of their institutions, may bo read of in his books; but tho story of his life in itself has a special interest in that/ his restless energy, both of mind and body, was hampered by physical dcfects, Ho had to loam to walk with crutches, to study manuscripts by hearing them read aloud, and even to put nsido his life's work altogether for a long period of years. Taking together his achievements and his disabilities, it seems that Mr Farnham docs not go beyond the mark in styling him "one of tho heroic figures in the history of letters." — Hutchinson and Co. announce the early publication of two new and important political works-one "Tho Rk'ht Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, the Man and the Statesman, by Mr N. Murrell Harris, and the other Lord Robbery: His Lifo and his Speeches, _ by Mr Thomas F. G, Coatcs. The former is to bo in one handsome dcmy-octavo volume, and is to comprise 32 full-pago illustrations and portraits printed on plate paper, and a photogravure portrait, the price being ten phubngs. The author expresses in his preface Tiis indebtedness to Mr Chamberlain and to Mrs and Miss Chamberlain for the asfislanco iliey have afforded him in the preparation of his work, so that it may be regarded as an authentic and authorised biography of the Loioninl Secretary. In tho lcittor work) which will ftiako its appearance in a few days, and is to consist of two volumes, large demy-octavo, hnnsomcly bound in buckram, gilt, and adorned with 16 illustrations on plate paper and two photogravure portraits, Lord Rosebfiry's political and miscellaneous speeches will, by permission of the speaker himself, The' Times, the Daily News, and the Scotsman, be reprinted. It is to bo inferred, therefore. that this will also lie a biograpiiy compiled under the supervision of its distinguished subject. . — Messrs Hurst and Blackett have issued the greatest book on African travel and sport yet issued, under the title of "From the Cape to Cairo," being the account of the first traverse of tho Dark Continent from south to north, recently accomplished by Mr Ewart Scott Grogan. With the exception of an account of the gamo in the Pimgwe district, and of the little known moantaili-mass of Chiperoni and tho swamps of the Chambesi, the stage south of Tanganyika is touched upon but lightly. The hitherto unexplored country between Tanganyika and the Mountains of the Moon is 'dealt with at length; tho chain of high volcanoes, tivo of which are active, was thoroughly explored. ' Here a cannibal tribe, dwarfs, an ape-like people, and the Watu«i were met with. An interesting account- of TTganda and the road to the coast is given by Mr Sham, v--ha left the expedition at this point. Mr Grogan continued' his journev through the district where Stanley found Kmin, then down the Nile to Fashorja, traversing on foot 400 miles of the terrible Nile swamps. Hero Mr Grogan discovered the Woatsch people, of whom Sir Samuel Baker heard rumours. The railway and telegraph question is dealt with at some length, and there is a long chapter wherein Mr Grogan treats of the native question. Seven hundred miles of new country were' mapped; and the total distance of the actual journey was 6500 miles.