“CONSTANT READER’S” LIBRARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21148, 4 October 1930, Page 4

“CONSTANT READER’S” LIBRARY.

One of the most extensive and varied private collections of books in the Dominion was made in the course of his wide literary labours by the late Mr A. H. Grinling; well known to readers of this page as "Constant Reader.” The library, which is to be sold by auction next week, ■numbers, at a rough estimate, 12,000 volumes, and, besides a particularly fine and comprehensive range of standard authors and general literature, includes numerous works on science, history, philosophy, sociology,- religion, and biography and reminiscence. It'was always a marvel to his friends that in the search for a reference or in the elucidation of any points that arose in the course of his extensive journalistic work Mr Grinling was seldom unable to put his finger on a volume which was germane to big inquiry, while it was well known in Dunedin that anyone desiring to study the life and work of any author, more especially any modern author, could not do better than to enlist the help of Mr library. . The history of this collection begins only some 30 years ago, when Mr Grinling began his association with the Otago Daily Times. Primarily it was intended to assist in his literary. and journalistic labours, and the greatest part was coinposed of books that came for him to review. But soon the temptation to fill m gaps, or complete a collection of the author who was especially interestihg him at any time became too hard to resist, and for many years he added judiciously from many sources until the library reached its present remarkable extent. A man of erudition and sound literary judgmenti Mr Grinling still had very wide sympathies, and became enthusiastic about many authors and types of literature in turn, each enthusiasm being reflected in some section of the library. In such fashion were acquired the shelves of such wntere as Blake, Hazlitt, Trollope, Qis®mg, Maeterlinck, Lamb, Swinburne, and Wilcw, as well as the amazing collection of Russian, Norwegian, and German authors, while the name of the modern writers of whom Mr Grinling had a par* tioular admiration is legion—George Moore, Algernon Blackwood, G. K. Chesterton, Thomas Hardy, Masefield, and Con. rad are but a few from many. Indeed, Mr : Grinling might well be named the apostle of the moderns—through his articles be was instrumental in introducing to Dunedin people many present-day favourites long before they were at all generally recognised. Those reading the catalogue ,of the library, now obtainable from the auctioneers, will find it a most interesting document, if only as a record °i’“e great variety of interests which at ditierent times animated one of Dunedin s best-known literary men. The breaking up of so valuable a collection of books will be a matter for* regret on the part of many besides the coterie of literary folk who for- many years met on Saturday evenings at Mr Grinlings home—for lie waa always eager to put the resources of his library at the service of anyone of literary interests 5 • which will be tempered with satisfaction at such an opportunity of acquiring a part of so distinguished a collection.