PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 70

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

From the Rationalist Press Association wo have received the “Annual” for 1912. It is full of good things by writers of established reputation. The articles are essentially of a quality to suit readers of a seirious turn of mind. The topics are widely varied, and all are dealt with in a manner that gives them permanent value. “The Stone Idol,” by Mr Elder Phillpotts; “ The Re-birth of Religion,” by Rev. R. Roberts; “Voltaire,” by Mr John M. Robertson, M.P.; and “A Note on Flaubert, by Mr Arnold Bennett, may be specially mentioned. Professor L. C. Miall has a very good account of “ The Papal Index of Prohibited Books,” and Mr Joseph M'Cahe another such on “ The Tercentenary of the Bible”; while Mr E. Morris Young, 8.A., contributes a soberly-stated and rc-speot-oompelling article, entitled “ Why I Left the Church.” In addition to an illuminative causerie on “ Contemporary Literature,” by Minnermus, other five articles go_ to the making of this —the studious thinkers’ annual (Watts and Co., 6d not). From the R.P.A. also comes in sixpennyreprint form a volume of selections from the writings of Voltaire. Mr Joseph M'Cabe will add considerably to his already high refutation by the essay on the life and writings of Voltaire, which forms an introduction to his translation of these selections from the works of the great—and greatly misunderstood French writer. Though consisting of less than 5000 words, it is a vivid and sufficing presentment of tho brilliant satirist and of his incomparable writings. The works included in the selection are “ The Poem on the Lisbon Disaster,” “We Must Take Sides,” “The Questions of Zapata,” “ The Epistle to the Romans,” “Tho Sermon of the Fifty,” “Homily on Superstition,” “A Treatise on Toleration,” etc. The Christmas number of the Storyette is a specially number, and the principal_ attractions are a complete novel bv Marjorio Bowen, and tho first instalment of a series of stories bv Max Pemberton, entitled “ The Virgin Fortress.” the name given to the fortress of Metz before it was taken by the Germans in the FrancqPrussian war. Other stories are contributed by Hall Caine, Perceval Gibbon, Beatrice Harraden, Arnold Bennett, etc.