RECENT FICTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21650, 21 May 1932, Page 4

RECENT FICTION

" The Silver Eagle." By W. It. Burnett (William Helnemaun).' “ David’s Day." By Denis Mackail (Hodder and Stoughton). “ Mldulglit on the Place Plgalle." By Maurice Dekobra. Translated by Metcalfe Wood. Illustrated (Werner Laurie). “ Ice Cold Marriage." By Christine JopeSlade (Cassell). " Strong Waters.” By John Lambourne (Jolm Murray). " Jim Crow’s Brethren." By Norman Giles (Collins). " Under Kenya Suns." By Kcate Weston (John Long). “ The House of Lies." By Austin Moore (Hodder and Stoughton). " Peril at End House." By Agatha Christie (Collins). “ Turmoil at Brodc.” By Scldon Truss (Harrap). (Each 6s net). An American Novelist Mr Burnett Las evolved a staccato, simple-sounding technique in story-telling which is admirably suited to his virile subjects—gunmen, pugilists, cowboys. His novels contain no obvious graces either of thought or of expression, but they have a terse reality in them that makes us willingly dispense with fine phrases. The hero of “ The Silver Eagle ” is Frank Haworth, who, still in his early thirties, has established in Chicago a successful chain of restaurants and dance halls, and is comparatively wealthy. He affects a monocle us an assertion of gentility which does not belong to him by birth. He craves to gain more money, more power, and to meet the best people. The way to wealth seems to lie with the gangsters. Haworth uses them first simply to collect bad debts for him on commission, but then there is a demand for “ protection ” with which he must comply, and then the gang-chief takes a liking to him, and suavely promises to make’him one of the leaders in the city. Haworth does not implicate himself willingly in the “ racket,” but he comes in, under persuasion and pressure, and when gang warfare breaks out he pays for having allied himself with the losing side. Thus there is a lesson in “ The Silver Eagle,” which is thrust home. Coincident with the tale of big business and gang activities is that of Haworth’s introduction to the fringes of “ society to men and women who have lost caste with the loss of their w’ealth or through irregular living. He throws over his mistress for a declassee “ society ” beauty, he makes money in a gamble with a disreputable member of the American aristocracy of wealth, and he is realising bitterly, when liia other less creditable connections end his life, that he has been tasting bitter fruit. The collapse of this powerful, attractive individuality under two decadent forces in the American contemporary theme makes a graphic subject for Mr Burnett. Treated by Upton Sinclair, it would become moralistic, but Mr Burnett has no leaning towards propaganda or sentimentality. The Author William R, Burnett, born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1899, attended the Miami Military Institute for one term, had thoughts of becoming a prize fighter, an actor, a leader of a jazz band. He married instead, and went to live in Chicago. There he wrote his first book, “ Little Cffisar,” a gangster novel. It was immediately successful, as was his second, “ Iron Man,” a boxing story. He now lives in Los Angeles, and devotes his full time to authorship. . “ The Silver Eagle ” is his fourth novel.

Pearls of Personality Mr Mackail is to be relied upon absolutely for the type of entertainment that he gave us in “ The Square Circle,” and which, with greater variation in scone and character, he continues in “ David’s Day.” In “ The Square Circle ” he was concerned entirely with the individual lives and the neighbourly contacts of the residents in that select locality, Tiverton square. In “David's Day" he takes the whole of London within the range of his kindly, penetrating plance, and limits the scope of his narrative to the events of one ordinary day in the metropolis. Everybody has a past, of course, which governs his actions on any particular day, and Mr Mackail. is too conscientious an artist to content himself with merely Creating puppet performers with no ambitions, no personal history, no future. He allows us co learn sufficient of the lives of his characters to understand why they should act as they do in the little crises which David’s day brings to them. Whether we are, lunching at his club with the newspaper baron, Lord Ludgate, or are with Miss Micklethwaite when she makes her decision not to elope, or are introduced to the affairs of the charlady, Mrs Rainbow, we have a sense of the character, of the individuality, of these people, and know that they are responding as much to their own inclinations as to those of their creator. So David, who is only a newborn baby, lies placidly in his cot while on this, his day, the world of London revolves around him and people who know nothing of David, and would not be interested if they did, are nevertheless influenced by him—or are they? Mr Mackail is not quite sure, but David, very reasonably it seems as we read this book, though really quite fantastically, certainly provides in some obscure way the thread upon which these delightful pearls of personality are strung. The Author Denis George Mackail, age 40, is the only son of Dr J. W. Mackail, professor of ancient literature in the Royal Academy, and a biographer of Morris, and translator of -Homer. He was educated at St. Raul’s School and Balliol College, Oxford, and published his first book, “What Next? ” 12 years ago. “Greenery Street” (1925) was one of his first successes, and has been followed by “ The Flower Show,” “ The Young Livingstones,” and other amusing, sentimental works. He married in 1917 the daughter of Sir Guy Granet, of the London, Midland, and Scottish railway, and has two daughters. He lives in Chelsea.

Gallicisms Maurice Dekobra’s latest Gallicism, “ Midnight on the Place Pigalle," is a neatly-contrived, blithe and distinctly Parisian tale of the conversion to an amorous life of Monsieur Prosper Migeot. As maitre d’hotel of the “ Flamant Rose ” over a goodly number of years, Monsieur Prosper proved himself a man of the greatest rectitude. He lived quietly with a widow lady, supplied guests with the most rare of d'shes while abstaining from any personal indulgence, and thrift enabled his retirement to the country at the age of 60. The rural life which had so appealed to him in anticipation soon, however, lost its charm, and on the death of the faithful Louise, Monsieur Prosper commenced to visit the gay haunts and the gay ladies of Paris. Ho was soon robbed of both' his fortune and his self-respect, and M. Dekobra leaves him to expire ignobly after his brief but rakish progress. M. Dekobra relates this tale with characteristic adroitness. The “Flamant Rose” he describes as a cafe “where it was not an uncommon thing to find Eros crippled making up to his mother, a fat, clumsy Aphrodite who has

fallen into the category of a procuress in a perverted Olympus.” Those who admire his picturesque eroticism will enjoy this book, which is illustrated. The Author Maurice Dekobra, French journalist, traveller, war correspondent, writer of novels, is a popular figure in Paris, where ho has an apartment with a cocktail bar. His novels, which have a wide circulation in translation throughout the Continent, include “ The Madonna of the Sleeping Cars,” of which a well-known English beauty is said to be the heroine, “ Serenade to the Hangman,” and “ Wings of Desire.” The publishers state that over 3,500,000 of his novels have been sold in 23 languages “ Ice-cold Marriage ” Christine Jope-Slade in her latest modern romance conducts her readers somewhat breathlessly around the London that is concerned with art, acting and amourousness, and transports them briefly to Paris, Vienna. New York and Madiera. Gay Clarke, tjie girl, is a manikin who believes that happiness comes to her who chooses restrainedly; Bim Russel, whom she marries, is a man of easy manners and many divorces. The twa naturally—for otherwise there would be no story—have to settle their problems of adjustment before their union is established on a secure basis, and Gay captures “ the loveliness of really belonging.” Gay, Incidentally, finds time to take a hand in settling the romantic worries of her brother and sister. The Author It is not surprising that Christine JopeSlade should have turned early in life to authorship, since she was born in an edifice consecrated to the making of books —the publishing offices of Messrs Heinemann, in Bedford street. She was educated at Antwerp, in the convent at which the documents relating to the fall of the city were signed, and has travelled extensively. She is married, has two children, and resides in London. J. M. Out of Africa Mr Lambourne, who enjoys a high position among writers of South African stories, has this time given us a tale somewhat along the lines of Richard Delian’s famous “ Dop Doctor.” The hero of Mr Lambourne’s story is a famous surgeon who, through an unmerited sentence of imprisonment, has lost faith in his fellows and in himself, and seeks forgetfulness in alcohol. He becomes guide to a party of tourists and falls in love with one of them, only to have his hopes dashed when she learns he is the town’s rnpst notorious drunkard. Later, it becomes necessary that an emergency operation requiring great skill should be performed on this young woman, and the drunken _ doctor is persuaded to attempt it. This he does after “soothing his nerves with half a bottle of neat brandy,” and the operation is successful. This incident marks the turning point of his career, and he then commences a long up-hill fight against the dop-demon, eventually winning back his manhood and the woman ,ho loves.

The * * Jim Crow ” Problem Political idealism is the motive theme of the new South African story by Mr Norman Giles, “Jim Crow’s Brethren.” A fine streak of confused philosophy runs through the book, consorting quite happily with a rather ingenuous love affair in which the hero becomes entangled with the wife of one of his neighbours. The hero of the tale is Gey Vanßynhardt, who is introduced to the reader as a young man carried away by the idea of the full development and prosperity of Africa through the admission of the Kaffir to full citizenship on equal terms with both British and Dutch. His championship of the “New Citizen Party ” provides many opportunities for the introduction of impressive political theories and ideals, but it was only natural that a project so unpopular in the Union should founder on the rock of British and Dutch conservatism. Rynhardt’s love affair with another man’s wife has the effect of alienating l the sympathy./of many sensitive voters who might otherwise have supported his party, and the book finally finishes on the romantic note, leaving the whole vexed question of the colour bar in South Africa still unsolved. It is a well-written, readable story. Unconventional Kenya

For some reason novelists who set their tales in Kenya depict characters whose standards of morality are modelled on lines which even in this emancipated age are regarded as unconventional. “Under Kenya Suns,” by Keate Weston, is such a tale, but it must not be inferred that because the principal characters have discarded the laws of matrimony, the book depends upon these situations to hold the interest of the reader. The principal character, Gerry Holt, is well drawn, and indeed the author ' displays, considerable skill in his delineation of types, from the mission station staff to the beautiful young Dr Nancy Harlow, who considers herself far too stately to love a man until the tempestuous, Empirebuilding, compelling and convention-loath-ing Gerry crosses her path. The tale works to an excellent climax in which Gerry is -suitably killed to redeem his sins.

** The House of Lies ” In “The House of Lies” Mr Austin Moore bids fair to eclipse the success lie achieved a couple of years ago in Birds of the. Night.” He piles thrill upon thrill with a lavish hand, and, though one cannot fail to be aware of the improbability of some of the principal scenes, that, in no way detracts from their entertainment value. When' Mr Phileman, a young financier, i s found dead, Scotland Yard begins to be perturbed, for this is the fourth death in suspicious circumstances within a year, and all bear a resemblance. Each victim had been very rich, each had kept an account at the National Commercial Bank of Britain, and each had withdrawn a very large sum of money just before his death. Blackmail is suspected, and it is even learned that the last victim was on the point of revealing the name of his persecutor to the police when he was struck down. The crimes are attributed to a master criminal who rejoices in the fantastic name of “Red Mask,” and the manner in which they are committed to a new Continental poison. Many picturesque characters figure in the plot. Some are undeniably honest, some are as surely rogues, and quite a number act strangely through pressure of circumstances. The reader’s suspicions are skilfully drawn from one to another, though when the final denouement comes the feasibility of the murderer’s actions is quite apparent. Mr Moore has undoubted skill, and has little to learn in the matter of creating tense moments.

Why and Who? Agatha Christie can be trusted to tell an intelligent mystery story, and in “Peril at End House” she does not disappoint her readers. Miss Buckley is the charming owner of the End House, a somewhat mysterious place. On three separate occasions attempts to murder her have occurred. A curious will points to her cousin, Charles Vyse, as a probable culprit. A cousin of Miss Buckley—of the sariie name, Magdala Buckley—comes as a companion to the owner of the End House, and almost ns soon as she arrives she is shot. The reasons for the murder of this inoffensive woman and for the other sinister happenings at End House are revealed when M, Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, gets to work.

Matrimony and Murder “ Turmoil at Brcde,” Mr Soldo'll Truss’s latest novel, is a melodramatic “thriller.” The story concerns the adventures of Elizabeth Wild, who endeavours to probe the mystery that surrounds her father’s financial ruin, and his subsequent submission to the demands of ft coterie of criminals. In her initial attempt Elizabeth becomes embroiled in a shooting affray, and is rescued from a perilous situation by a mysterious young man who styles himself “Mr Penn of Pentonville.’ Elizabeth and her rescuer discover that they have a common cause, and join forces. Lady Hermione Brede, a society hostess, hi. Paul Nicosix, owner of the “ Temple of Youth,” a celebrated West End beauty salon, and Basil Gormanj a shady lawyer, are the principal characters who conduct an infamous matrimonial agency. The frustration of the final episode in their discreditable operations involves Elizabeth and "Mr Penn” in a series of startling adventures. Y, V 3 Lt