RECENT FICTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21988, 24 June 1933, Page 4

RECENT FICTION

“ Laughter In Heaven.” By C. Lloyd Jones JJHelnemann). „ , _ , „ “ The World His Pillow.” By James Barke By Sigrid 800. Translated fcy Naomi Walford (Helnemann). "Adam Square.” By Marjorie Stewart (Hutchinson). „ "Round the Corner. By Valentine <^,a A d 'j L Alan’s Second Book” (Hutchinson). " Very Private Secretary.” By Mrs Balllle Keynolds (Hodder and Stoughton). “Arctic Paradise.” By Frank Stafford Wing Feather," By Constance Iff. Evans (Mills and Boon). " Murder at the Crab Apple Cafe. By Gordon Manners (Jenkins). “ Lonely Hollow Mystery. By 1. Arthur Plummer (Paul.) T " The Mushroom Field. By Mabel L. Tyrrell (Hodder and Stoughton; 3s 6d net)l. „ “ Mysterious Waye,” by P. C. Wren, O Rowan Tree,” by B. tV. Mackenna (Murray, each 2s net). & . . ~ (Each 7s net, unless otherwise stated.)

Pleasant People On a late page in Mr Lloyd Jones s “ Laughter in Heaven,” the hero, lob.v, reveals himself as resembling many others in serious fiction to-day.. the advanced idealist struggling against man-made social and economic laws: — I happen to want a world that’s more or less fit for sensitive people to live in. I want to see as many as possiole of the uncivilised bosses . • • ob ' liberated. We’re not allowed to contradict the stupid for fear of hurting their precious feelings; we re. not allowed to kick the vicious tor tear they’ll kick the dinner table over in return. We’fe supposed to be so understanding that for the sake of the general peace we’ll put up with any barbarism the warped and blind like to commit. .’. . These or similar sentiments are so often expressed by rather exasperating young men who are in novels, or write novels, that they might, thus reproduced, deter readers from Mr Lloyd Jones’s hook. But Mr Lloyd Jones is no stripling scribe, though this is the first of his books to reach us, nor is Toby an unextraordinary hero. The occasionally dull expression of. his vague aspirations apart, he is pn interesting character, interestingly portrayed, and to keep company with him in this well-filled hook the author has found two equally interesting women. One, the girl Toby marries, is prim-conventional to the point _ of nausea, save where her society ambitions are aroused:, the other, Sally, is a more truthful," wild, untamed Irish girl, than ever stepped into the pages of the old-style sentimental fiction. The story, which moves leisurely mainly among ease-loving, cultured people, does not lend itself to paraphrase, but it is always absorbing. The chapters in which the, war and postwar' Sein Fein troubles in Ireland are described are . dramatic, objective. ‘‘ Laughter in Heaven” is a noyel which should find a good public, especially since it happily combines the elements which endeared Galsworthy’s work to conservative readers, with the straight-speaking of Mr Aldington’s “ All Men Are Enemies.” The Reformer In Mr James Barke’s “The .World His Pillow” the hero is, again, in a state of revolt, but not so vaguely as Toby Gondoveri Duncan Carmichael, born and 1 reared in the West Highlands, is inspired with a purpose, as have been so many Scots lads of his type who have devoted raw vigour and enthusiasm to the ministry, the engineering workshop,. or the hank, and made success for themselves.. As it happens Duncan Carmichael sinks his talents in the Labour Movement, and .it is for the reader to decide whether the industry and faith he gives tb. this cause justify his expenditure. This decision they will make according to their own convictions,- no doubt, but whatever the verdict they can hardly claim That the fierce intrusion of politics into the novel improves it, either as a work of fiction or a social study, Mr Barke reveals himself- as an able-minded writer, with a good dramatic style, but he protests too much. The first part of.“ The World His Pillow,” in which he writes, doubtless with knowledge and imagination, of the life of a Highland hoy in Invernessshire, will please the majority, of readers of books with ; the authentic bcottish flavour. When Duncan descends upon the Clydeside, becomes a burning refcfrmcr, and wages war upon the established order with all the ardour of a worshipper 1 of Maxton, average reader may like him, and the book, less. All the same, Mr Barke has put good work and conviction into his novel, and one must respect the result. The Author James Barke is a Glasgow man. and is connected with one of the Clydeside shipbuilding firms. “The World His Billow” is his first novel. A few years ago the Scottish National Theatre produced a play, Gregaroch,” from his pen. ** Lady-Help ” “Lady-Help” is in no way such a serious piece of work. The only revolt in it is that of the heroine, Heiga, against the suggestion of a youthful admirer, Jorgen, that she is a useless ornament about the house, the only reality the fact that her light, breezy adventures as a young lady turned serving-girl may actually have happened, if not to the author, then to somebody she knows. The sole revelation, somewhat surprising to English readers, is that the youth of Norway speaks, thinks, and acts in the same way as that of New Zealand, England, or, presumably, of any other civilised country. But the most noteworthy thing about “Lady-Help” is that it is one of the rare books which, picked up in an idle moment by a crusty bachelor, a busy man of aairs, or any. other person for whom it is not mtened, _will attract his interest to the end. That Heiga has two situations, one of which is easy, the other hard, that she makes friends with cooks and falls in love witn a chauffeur, and intrigues the mistress of the house'with her expensive pyjamas and the ability to walk on her hands, are really matters beneath tne notice of serious people, but that will not deter them from reading I about them, .The truth is that “ Lady-Help,” which is given to the world in the form of.letters from Heiga to a friend, is, of its type and within ii« limitations, excellently done. Ine translation also is good.

Cross-section of. Life Human nature is much the same the world over: it is conditioned less by geographical considerations than by the all-powerful factors of instinct ana heredity. Based on this doctrine, Adam Square ” is a well-written story of the comings and goings, the joys and sorrows, the everyday experiences of a _ group of neighbouring families in a typical West of England city. And no great stretch of imagination is required to recognise that here we have but a cross-section of life —life as it is lived in the Adam squares of all, the world. There is, for instance, Major Lipton, driven to re-

volt against the tyranny of a nagging wife, and there is Deborah, Mallory, breaking at last the bonds of her mother’s repressions—two lonely souls who find sympathy and understanding together. There is, too, Lucille L’Amie, the dancer, beloved of two brothers, and learning just in time the worthlessness of one and the nobility of the other; and there are her four charming sisters, exulting in each other’s success and sustaining their father in the tragedy of the. mother’s death. The author, whose identity is shrouded in the mystery of a pseudonym, exhibits insight, tolerance, and breadth of outlook in a story which presents, with a blending of humour and pathos, many of the happenings of everyday life. Cornwall-London

“ Round the Corner ” is another of “Valentine’s” pleasant, rather inconsequential novels, in which difficulties are placed in the way of the principals’ happiness merely that love may triumph over them. Jim, an orphan of literary antecedents, has been brought up in a Cornish village by a kindly blacksmith. When Ann Mannering the daughter of well-to-do people, visits the village on a holiday, the first stage in a tender romance is set. Then Jim receives his opportunity of seeking fame in London. When the way is clear, his scruples at the financial morals of his patron prove too strong, and he relinquishes his chance. He is prepared to sacrifice Ann also, in his highly moral renunciations, but she is a girl of character, and the story ends happily and hopefully. For Listeners-in A very entertaining book for those who like light humour is “A. J. Alan’s Second Book.” Mr Alan is one of the foremost broadcasting narrators in England at the present time, and is the possessor of. a distinctive style which he has carried with him into this volume. Whether the subject of his discourse be bis reaction to a concert of rather “highbrow” music or his somewhat improbable experiences on an ocean voyage, he is always amusing, and although his stories are meant more to be listened to than read, they may be used to fill in a very pleasant half-hour. Readers who liked Mr Alan’s first book, “ Good Evening, Everyone,” will enjoy this one. Strictly Confidential

Mrs Baillie Reynolds has the light touch not always affected by those who write orthodox detective stories, and her latest semi-“ thriller,” “Very Private Secretary,” is an engaging book, which profits by its divorce from matter-of-fact crime detection. The heroine, Alfey Carr, is secretary to a mysterious magnate about whose affairs she remains laudably silent. It is really because she is such a mode] secretary, and so curt in dismissing the attempts at interference of young Humphrey Escott, that she becomes involved in a very mysterious affair. From it the author and Humphrey extricate her, using excitement and humour as the levers. Kidnapped Gangster

“Arctic Paradise” is the story of a strong will. Lady Anne Pye, one of the reformers of the world, determines that by sheer force of her own driving power her husband, a vague and slightly bibulous nonentity, shall enter Parliament. His announcement, in the middle of the election campaign, of the total collapse of his finances does not daunt her, but. merely causes the deflection of her energies into a mission for restoring the family fortunes. This, she thinks, can be done easily by selling a cargo of whisky to “Alfredo the Bohunk,” America’s leading gangster. Another setback occurs when Alfredo declines to pay up, but once again Lady Anne’s indomitable will refuses to be crushed. A fortuitous circumstance delivers Alfredo into her hands, and we are them presented with the incongruous picture of a prosperous gangster being held to ransom. Before he regains his freedom Lady Anne has established a new colony in the Arctic, with, as is usual in these cases, somewhat novel ideas on eugenics. Lover’s Tiff

Constance M. Evans’s “Fortune's Wi n ? Feather” is unashamedly a sentimental romance. It is concerned with the misunderstandings which arise when Faune, an unsophisticated poor girl, wins a fortune in a sweepstake and becomes engaged to marry Nick West, a friend of her rich relations. By the time she has relented of Her unsympathetic treatment of him, Nick has found reason for a quarrel with her, but fortunately, the lovers are capable, eventually, of forgiving arid forgetting. Murders at the Cafe

Mrs Ebury and her granddaughter; Beryl Ebury, conduct the Crab Apple Cafe in Eoseneath. One Sunday at mid-day a neighbour, going in with some scones for the delectation of customers in the afternoon, finds both of them lying dead in the passage. Inspector Hotchkiss follows up one clue after another, incidentally uncovering some very unpleasant episodes in the lives of people who are quite innocent in the Crab Apple case. Every one of these hopeful lines of inquiry proves completely useless. They embarrass rather than help. The vicar of Rose* neath,. Latimer by name, by his curious actions' calls attention to himself and causes a wretched creature, a nephew of Mrs Ebury, to point to him as the, murderer. This precipitates a confession from an un-looked for quarter. “Murders at the Crab Apple Cafe” is au excellent “thriller.” “ Lonely Hollow Mystery ”

This is quite an intriguing story, in which a queer series of evil deeds leads up to a fearful murder. Andrew Marne is warned of his imminent danger by a woman whose features are hidden by a heavy veil. Later a body is found in the house —a body fearfully mutilated, the features being unrecognisable. John Milton, who has come to stay in a Brighampton hotel, leaves his luggage carefully packed, and disappears mysteriously, Sam Lennox acts in a most erratic manner. The veiled woman appears again, and lights are seen in the house in Lonely Hollow and also in a house in East Furlong at times when they should not be there.. Love and jealousy play their part. The reader will guess the, solution about halfway through, but the intertwining elements of the plot will keep hold of the attention. Reprints

Mabel Tyrrell’s “ The Mushroom Field ” is a well-told tale in the quietly romantic vein and has had some deserved success. It now appears in a low-priced edition. Two other successful books that have now found their way into cheap editions are P. C. Wren’s “thriller,” “Mysterious Waye,” and R. W. Mackenna’s “ 0 Rowan Tree,” which contains a number of delightful sketches of Scottish life. V. V. L. Scientific Records Science Progress, the quarterly review of scientific work and thought, will be published in future by, Messrs Edward Arnold. The principal features of the review will remain unchanged, though typographical improvements should enhance the ease of reading. Each number will contain at least one article by_ a leading scientist describing .work with which he has been identified. In the July number this feature will be contributed by the Astronomer Royal, Dr H. Spencer Jones, F.R.S. : Home University Library Messrs Thornton Butterworth. Ltd., announce that Professor Julian S. Huxley, Fellow of New College, Oxford, has accepted their invitation to become science editor of the Home University Library, in the place of the late Professor Sir J. Arthur Thomson. The Library, founded in 1911 and added to each year, now consists of more than 160 volumes covering the chief subjects in history and geography, literature and art, science and social science, philosophy and religion. Professor Huxley joins the Right Hon. D. A. L. Fisher and Gilbert Murray in an editorial association which was unbroken from the inception of the library up to the time of Sir Arthur Thomson s death.