RECENT FICTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21940, 29 April 1933, Page 4

RECENT FICTION

“Pocahontas, or the Nonpareil of Virginia." By David Garnett. Frontispiece and Map. (Chatto and Wlndus; 8s 6d net.) “ Cocktail Alley.” By Eric Hazelton. (Cas•ell.) "A Romany Chal." By Konrad Bercovlcl. .(Hurst and Blackett.) < “ Coloured Glass." By Innes Hart (I. B. G. ■art). (Rich and Cowan.) V Sets Your Star." By G. Sheila DonlsBiorpe. (Huchlnson.) " The Capital Murder.” By James Z. Alner. (Hurst and Blackett.) " Murder on the Glass Floor." By Viola Brothers Shore. (Harrap.) "Terror Tower." By Charles Rushton. (Jenkins.) "Five Million in Cash." By Q. B. King. (Jarrolds.) _ , " O’Malley In the Saddle.” By Clem Torke. (Wild West—Collins.) (Each 7s net, unless otherwise stated.) Pocahontas Mr Garnett has had in “Pocahontas” a two-fold aim, “ to draw an accurate historical picture and to make it a work of art.” Whether he has succeeded in the first-named object, the authorities must decide. It is stated in. an American magazine that Captain Smith’s. story of the famous rescue „is discounted by historians. But that’ is beside the point. A work of art'this book undoubtedly is, and the moaLimjiortant of Mr Garnett’s writings to this time, for it has a broad, colourful l>.''canvas, it' reconstructs epic scenes, in a manner he has not, so far as we are aware, previously attempted._ The story off Pocahontas: the Indian princess from whom many of the oldest Virginian families iprdudly claim descent, deserved to be lifted from dull .and uncertain sources. It, is the best, perhaps- the only, living story of; the. days of the early Virginianisetllement.' It .commences with the coming::to this hew ;land; : of - colonistadventurers ;{the advehturoiiß clement pre* dominating) v, : .;from / - Europe-rgamblers. pirates, decadehtaristocratg, and the rest. Among thwx' was ' John Smith, - dominant, .fortune, who was incredibly odastful,- > but almost equally bold, when he fell into the hands of Powhatan, the Indian chief, he was prepared to meet death with a Btiff’lip, but grateful when the chief’s dark-eyed young, daughter claimed him from the execution block. Pocahontas became the guardian angel of the Jamestown settlement, mainly instrumental in preserving the somewhat precarious peace between the white and red Virginians. Smith was sent back to England after being severely wounded in an accidental explosion, and Pocahontas believed him dead. Then came John Eolfe to the settlement, a man ambitious and willing to work to gratify hie wishes. It was he who discovered how to make the Virginian leaf palatable, and when he fell in love with Pocahoptaa the marriage pleased everyone in Jameetown, as .she thus became a permanent hostage against her father’s tribe. When he went to London on a holiday Eolfe, now prosperous, took his wife with him, and Pocahontas saw at last the wondrous London of Smith’s telling,,. She saw Smith, too, an old and broken man; she saw James 1 and Anne of-Denmark. .and all the glittering did not see Bier home again.,-, .- s 4n lolb, in the outbotnd,ship at Gravesend, she died, only 21, one of the youngest women to leave a mark in history.’

The Author David Garnett was born in 1892, the •on of Edward Garnett, the critic, and of Constance Garnett, the translator of Tchekov. Hi« father advised him: “ Never try to write, but above all. never have anything to do with publishing or the book trade.” He tried to obey the injunction, and turned botanist, studying at the Royal College of Science (he discovered a new specie® of mushroom). But inclination was too strong, and after the •war he started .bookdtelling in company with Frances Birrell, writing in the evenings. In 1923 was published Lady Into Fox,” which won the Hawthornden and other prizes. other works, mostly semi-fantasies, include Go She Must” “The Sailor's Return,”. The Grasshoppers Come.” He is married, has two children, and is a director of the Nonesuch Press.

Eastern TragirComedy -The 'rt.frisbmert to -be' obtained In “ Cocktail AHey ”j 8 poor stuff compared with the draught of Sparkling clear liquid represented- by Mr Garnett s book. All the same, this modern novel, for which Mr Noel Coward gave the author a title (as he dutifully records in-the dedication) is interesting enough of its type, •nd derives interest from the author s sophisticated, if slightly obtrusive, knowledge of his scene. ; It. describes the infatuAtioh of .a beautiful middle-aged woman, Mrs Masshiter, for a highly-eus-ceptiblc, handsome young man whom sne meets on ehipbtgtd oh the journey east. Mrs tMasshiter iegardg the romance which flowers in cocktail alley (the gossipinfested bar of the' ship) as the; most serious thing in life, but, of course, the worthless Dicky, though first flattered, is afterwards frightened and bored hy.it. In Singapore and other exotic places tn passion burns itself out in the modern manner—not with a bang but a whimper.

The Author Eric Hazelton was born in 1895. the son of the late George Victor Hazelton, of Oldington House, near Kidderminster, and educated privately and at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He served with the B.E.F. in war time in France, and in Sinai and Palestine. After the war he joined the colonial civil service, and was in Malaya for 10 years as private secretary to Sir Genrge Maxwell, secretary to the resident, Ivegri and assistant Colonial Secretary to the Straits Settlements. “ Cocktail Alley' is his first novel. ** A Romany Chai ”

This story concerns Loli, daughter of the gipsy chief Pet’fu. Costa, her betrothed, and Albert Van Roehm, the oorgio, her lover. Costa, the ideal gipsy, handsome, a wonderful violinist and full of self-assurance, fell desperately, in love with Loli, but as his tribe was unable to produce the 10,000 dollars Petru asked for her he was not able to marry her at once. Meanwhile, Loli met Albert Van Roehm, a young musician, and for the first time in her life realised that she was in love. She knew from the beginning that there cotild be nothing permanent about their love, for gipsies never marry gorgios, but she cheerfully practised a deception the penalty for which is death. Albert, in spite of his love for her, caused her do betray her race, and then, when she-had to suffer the cruel punishment, failed her. Costa, however, loved Loli still in spite of her tragedy, and. having by this time collected the money for Petru, married her. Mr Bercovici writes sincerely and naturally of the tragic, exotic race he knows so well.

The Author Konrad Bercovici was born in Rumania, on the bank of the Danube, 49 years ago. His first nurse was an old gipsy.

from whom he learned the lullabies, legends, and customs of the Komani. When he was 15 he joined a« gipsy tribe and wandered for several years all over European this company. This is his first full-length gipsy novel. “ Coloured Glass ”

Miss Hart’s pseudo-heroine in “Coloured Glass ” is not an admirable young woman, albeit she may be a real one. Clare Beresford, London bred and impressionable, is a governess when the story opens. When Claude Storey is so amiable as to sympathise with her iu her unhappy situation she believes he is “ serious.” When he goes away she is annoyed and aggrieved, but finds consolation of a sort m marriage with the kindly, middle-aged vicar. Since, parish work is not her enthusiasm, his amiable sister—the real heroine of the novel—carries it on. Tragedy- comes for the more sterling charaicterß in the tale when Claude returns and Clare decides that her first timid romance is not yet dead. “ Coloured Glass ” is a work which is skilfully treated, the author having delineated the character of Clare with more care and understanding than most people may think it deserves. There are other meritorious Character, sketches in the book. Like Mother, Like Daughter

Misa Donisthorpe, the author of “Loveliest of Friends! ” provides a studv m her new novel, “Set* Yojir Star,’ of another type of girl, who with more character and honesty than Clare Beresford, is not less disturbed and unhappy in adjusting herself to life. Jane Miller is unfortunate in her mother, a managing woman who kept her subdued but inwardly rebellious till she was of age. Then Jane got war-work and, after her lover was killed, married an artist acquaintance. His absent, _ improvident ways aggravated her to distraction, but later, after. a; reconciliation with her mother, she became more content to accept the necessity of conducting her life according to a previously despised standard'. ■ . . ■ , - . . ’

Snake Murderer

“ The Capital Murder ” is the story of the method adopted by a keen and calculating scoundrel to rid himself of a mistress of whom he had grown tired. Beatrice Sigurda is discovered dead. She is sitting on a divan in her drawing room and but for two slight punctures in her neck there is nothing to indicate the cause of death. A group of friends had been discussing the “perfect crime” and by good hap one of them is the Commissioner of Police. ’ Through him Trevor Stoke and the others of the party are allowed some interest in the unravelling of the mystery. Snake bite ia clear as tbe cause of death and the presence of dead rats around the house subsequent to the death of its owner makes it evident that the creature is still alive and in the place. Then a half-caste South American Indian servant falls a victim to the snake, which is later captured by Stoke and’ killed, A doctor, a ..professor, , the’, “ doctor’s secretary—all :seepr to know-far too -touch about the tragedy. Stoke,however, Ms his own 'ideas, and a fortunate, mistake made by the murderer enables him to be fairly certain that bis conclusions are correct. A few more supporting factsand he confronts the criminal, and, but for the fact that he had taken precautions to protect himself, would have been shot. It was a desperately near thing in any case.

Murder at Sea Colin and Gwynn Keith are American novelists in Paris. ' They possess, if may as well be said, a bevy of tl>% most illbred American friends one could; wish not to meet. When they decide to re-' turn to the States-in that luxury liner of ill-omen, the Albania, most of their low acquaintances, people of wealth dubiously come by, accompany them. During a dance on the green glass floor of the Albania Lily Diaz, a woman of no uncertain repute, is murdered. The captain, who has something to conceal, holds an inquiry, at which it is discovered that everybody else has some reason for lying. “Murder on the Glass Floor” is unfortunate in the uniformly unpleasant level of its protagonists,,. Jbut is .well . worked out, mainly i ih‘. briskly dialogue," and contains an unexpected ending. , V '

“ Terror Tower '* “Terror Tower ” is the story of a surgeon of brilliant intellect whose mind has given way owing, probably, to his war experiences. He believes that he can take the brain from one person of keen mind, but poor physical health, and graft; it into the head of a person of superb physique, but low or deranged mentality. Two headless bodies arc found in the Devil’s Mouth, a dark and strangely sinister loch. How had they got there is the problem. They could not have been carried to it and then thrown in. That is simply not possible. The explanation is as weird as one can wish, involving as it does an underground operating room which can be flooded gradually by means of Tcrengh Burn. The story of the way in which Inspector Pretswell found his way through the double-walled well in Terengh Tower and so into the operating theatre as the mad surgeon was about to operate on his own niece is graphically, told, as. is that of the fight in the steadily flooding room. '■ -

“ Five Million in Cash ’’ • Ben Flinders, a lazy but likeable employee in a garage paint shop, is scarcely to be blamed if, awaking to find his room flooded with Treasury notes, he determines to keep them. He scarcely reckoned, however on the determination of the gangsters of New York to recover the money, nor the assiduity with which the police pursue the corpse-strewn trail. Ben finds himself engaged in fighting single-handed these two highly-organised forces. This is a brisk and -exciting “thriller,’ well suited to the temperament of those who prefer the gang type of fiction with plenty ot cold-blooded killings.

A “ Western ” “ O’Malley in the Saddle ” is quitq an interesting story on lines that have be; come somewhat common in Wild West novels. A large ranch run by a group of men, to whom scruples of conscience are unknown, is crowding a smaller one owned by a young woman, who is divorced from her disreputable husband.- By a curious coincidence O’Malley Malone is advised to go to the owners of the. big ranch to find work. This advice is given by the rascal husband of the owner of the smaller; one. A dust storm causes O Halley to lose his way dnd he arrives at the small ranch, where he , takes up the woman’s battle and wins not only his fight, but a wife. V.V.L.