BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 75

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Sir A. C. Mackenzie, the veteran musician and late Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, is writing his memoirs.

Miss Clemence Dane, who has completed a new play, “Adam’s Opera,” has also written a study of Hugh YValpole and his work.

Mr Roland Pertwee is turning into novel form the successful play “Interference,” in which he collaborated with Dr Harold Dearden.

The publishers of a new edition of "Gulliver’s Travels’’ have received a letter addressed to " Dean Swift, Esq.”

A book of special interest is promised. This is an account of the life of H.R.H. the Duchess of York, which is being written by Lady Cynthia Asquith.

Mr E. M. Forster, who is probably the most retiring of well-known modern authdrs, is at present living near Gomshall, in Surrey. lie rarely comes to London.

Writing in the Publishers’ Circular, Mr Edward Marsh reveals the fact that in 1926 the general public laid out fully £5OOO in England alone on the books of Rupert Brooke.

Recent rumour has it that Olive Schreiner did not write “ The Story of an African Farm,” but that she discovered the tattered MS. of the tale in the farm which gave its name to the story!

Mr H. G. Wells’s new novel, “ Meanwhile,’’ part of which deals with the general strike in Great Britain, is illustrated with thumbnail sketches by Mr Wells himself.

Some time ago Mr R. D. Blumenfeld, editor of the Daily Express, published in that paper extracts from his diary. He is now preparing for publication in book form the whole of the diary.

Mr James Stevens, the author of Mattock,” began work as a labourer at the age of 15, and was a sergeant in the American armv during the war. He is now one of the “ idols ’> of intellectual America.

The revival of interest in Anthony Trollope is to be stimulated still further by the publication by Elkin Mathews and Marrot of " London Tradesmen,” a series of sketches contributed by the great novelist to the Pall Mall Gazette.

* * * Mr H. D. Lowry, once a big figure in London journalism, left behind him an uncompleted novel dealing with mining life in Cornwall. This has been revised aJid completed by Mrs C. A. Dawson Scott, who also writes brilliantly of Cornish life.

* * * _lt has been said that Miss Margaret Kennedy is dramatising her new’ novel, “Red Sky at Morning.” This is not so. Miss Kennedy, however, is at work with Mr Basil Deanon an altogether new play, “ Come With Me.”

A disciple and friend of Henry James, the American novelist, who lived for so long in England. Mrs Edith Wharton has been accounted one of the greatest women writers of modern fiction. In many of her earlier books she depicted the leisurely life on Fifth avenue of a generation ago. In her newest novel, “ Twilight Sleep.” she portrays the hectic life of New York s young men and women to-day.

It is likely that before very long we shall have two first novels by members of the family of (he Earl of Oxford and Asquith. The first will be by the Countess of Oxford, and the second by Captain Asquith.

The Blake Centenary Day falls on August 12, and appropriate celebrations are to be held at Wesley’s Chapel, City road, opposite Bunhill Fields, where Blake lies buried. Among the celebrants will be Mr C. Lewis Hind, who is to read a paper.

Mr C. E. Montague, who was for many years associated with the Manchester Guardian, and is now popular as one of our best writers about the war, has gone to live at Burford, where he has a pleasant house which was built by one of Sir Christopher Wren’s masons.

Some of us believe Mr H. G. Wells to be the greatest short story writer of his age, and there should be a warm welcome for the collection of his tales which are to be published this summer. The book will be on the large scale, and will contain more than 1000 pages.

A pompous, but rather ignorant, rich man, who believed in having everything “ just so,” was showing a wonderful library collection to a genuine booklover. “They are my friends! ” exclaimed the wealthy one, waving his hand towards his books. “ Ah,” replied the other, examining a volume from a shelf,"" I see you never ‘cut’ your friends! ”

One of the most tireless figures in the war was the late Field-marshal Sir Henry Wilson, who, it will be remembered, was assassinated by two Irish Republicans on his doorstep in Eaton square in 1921. He was the conscientious keeper of a journal in which he daily recorded events of importance of his life and times. This has now been edited, .with a memoir of him by his old friend, Major-general Sir C. E. Callwell.

Mrs Mary Hughes, of Tyissa Farm, Llangollen (Wales), who claims to have inspired the nursery rhyme “ Mary Had a Little Lamb,” celebrated her eightysixth birthday in May. She states that a Miss Burl, of London, who was staying in the neighbourhood, wrote the verses, after a lamb which Mary had reared on her father’s farm had followed the child two miles to school.

Hie New Readers’ Library has begun well with three-and-sixpenny volumes of Gerhardi, YY 7 . H. Hudson, and H. Al. Tomlinson. Soon we are to have Captain David Bone's “ The Brassbounder,” Mr Hilaire Belloc’s “ Caliban’s Guide to Letters,” Mr Birrell’s “ Obiter Dicta,” two Tchehov volumes, and “ The Bonadventure ” of Mr Edmund Blunden. There seems no limit to series of this kind.

YA e understand that Andre Mauro.is’s mother-in-law still holds a salon in Paris every Sunday evening. She is the daughter of the famous Madame Arman de Cail la vet, who- for nearly 40 years made her house the centre for budding talent and sometimes for genius. A book called “ The Last Salon ” which deals with Madame de Caillavet and her circle will be seen here shortly.

YVith the publication of a novel called “The Silent Queen” Mr Seymour Leslie will no longer be, as he says, “ the only silent member of a monumentally, formidably active literary family.” lie is a cousin of Mr Churchill’s, and the brother of Mr Shane Leslie. Amongst his numerous interests he cares mostly for music, books, languages, and travel.

YVc were told the other day by a man who has explored parts of the same jungles in South America about which Gordon MacCreagh wrote in his unusual travel book, “ White YY 7 aters and Black ” (says Now and Then), that the hardships there recorded give an extremely true picture of the kind of adventure met with in that part of the world. Gordon MacCreagh has just set off on an exploring expedition to Abyssinia, accompanied by his wife.

Mr C. A. Bang, 0.8. E., who was intimately connected with the late William Heinemann, the publisher, for a quarter of a century, lias been appointed by King Y 7 ictor Emanuel a Commander of the Royal Order of the Crown of Italy. The appointment is stated to be made in recognition of his services to literature, art, education, and science. Mr Bang is a great admirer of Dr Maria Montessori’s educational methods.

One of the most successful of the newer recruits to detective fiction is Mr Freeman YVills Crofts, who i s at present at work on a new “ thriller,” which he believes will be his masterpiece. Mr Crofts is not an author by profession, but is a prominent engineer in the service of the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway at Belfast. He is a Dublin man, and has for hobby the training of choirs for competitive musical festivals.

The Channel Island novelist, Mr Compton Mackenzie, whose new novel, “ Rogues and Vagabonds,” has just appeared, recently played a new role, when he produced and stage-managed “ The School for Scandal ” in Guernsey. The part of Lady Teasle was taken bv Lady Sackville-West, wife of the Governor of Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. Mr Compton Mackenzie’s sister is that charming and versatile actress, Miss Fay Compton.

Mr Geoffrey Moss’s new novel, " New Wino,’’ has already begun its career’ as a serial, and will not appear in book form for months. It was originally conceived several years ago, when Mr Moss was a soldier and had still no notion of becoming a professional novelist. Mr Moss began his “ literary ” career at the outbreak of war when, as an officer in the Guards, he was ordered to prepare a text-book on military training ! A few months later he wrote his first short story.

In "William Morris,” by Holbrook Jackson, is a clear statement made by Morris on his aims for founding the Kelniscott Press: —

I began printing books with the hone of producing some which would have a definite claim to beauty, while at the same time they should be easy to read, and should not dazzle the eye or trouble the intellect of the reader by eccentricity of form in the letters.

This monograph of Mr Holbrook Jackson is still accepted as the best short study of the craftsmanship of William Morris and of the relationship of that side of the poet’s work to modern life and affairs.

On the happily rare occasions when a publisher is brought into contact with an author who has no conception whatever of the difficulties which have to be contended with in publishing a book, the thought flashes across his mind that it would be an advantage if authors had to serve an apprenticeship in some other publisher’s office. Muriel Stuart, whose “ Selected Poems ” will be seen shortly, was for seven years in Heinemann’s, and now works in Fleet street. There is likely to be a keen demand by collectors for htt

book of poems, which is to be issued in a limited edition.

This note about the Prince destined to become King Edward appears in “ The Diary of Lady Fiederick Cavendish ” (which Mr John Bailey has edited), under the year 1872:—

He does not get on with me, nor indeed, much with any but chaffy, fast people, though always kind and delightful in manner like most of 'em. . . . My conviction is that, when he succeeds to the Throne and has duties to do he will do far better than now seems likely; but the melancholy thing is that neither he nor the darling I’rss. ever care to open a book.

A long title to a book may have certain disadvantages, but at least the buyer has no complaint on the score of ambiguity. Miss Mackenzie’s “ The Playgoer’s Handbook to . the English Renaissance Drama ” gives a full description of what the book is about. This author has the happy faculty of saying things in a way that compels one to remember them. In her preface to this book she heads it with a quotation from “The Autobiography of a Writer of No Importance.” 'lhe sentence runs: “I would rather say true things than new things. If the true are also new, it is not my fault.” She certainly achieves the latter all through her book.

The treatment of criminals in any country gives a good indication of the psychology of the people, so that “ Criminology and Penology,” by John Lewis Gillin, who is a Professor of Sociology in the University of Wisconsin, is bound to interest a wide circle of people for different reasons. The discussions in the book are illustrated with copious citations of important experiments, and the results of his first-hand investigations. An exceptionally large number of cases have been described in considerable detail, in order to give concrete evidence as to the way in which various types of criminals originate, and to indicate something of the technique of successful treatment.

Some publishers of New York have accepted a new novel bv Agatha Christie, author of “ The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Mrs Christie has gone to the Canary Islands to complete her convalescence from a recent illness. The furore created by Mrs Christie’s disappearance during her illness led many people to believe that this was merely “ a publicity stunt,” and it has been deemed necessary to offer some reassurance to the public. Accordingly, several leading London specialists, including Lord Dawson of Penn, physician extraordinary to the King* have issued statements to the contrary, and it is clear that the nervous breakdown was genuine.

Most of the school reports ot George Sydenham Clarke harped on the theme “ could do better if he would,” yet he was destined to become Lord Sydenham of Combe and a force in Imperial questions. He was a member of the first Imperial Conference, and as Governor of Y’ictoria, from 1901 to 1904, and later Governor of Bombay, he had practical experiences of colonial affairs. During his governorship in India he showed great firmness in the suppression of a riot, and he was regarded by many as the probable successor of Lord Minto in the vice-royalty. Lord Sydenham, who is in his 80th year, has now written his memoirs, which he has aptly called “ My YY’orking Life.”

The following lines on a bronze tablet on the door of the school tell the story of “ Mary had a little lamb ” as Mr Ford has accepted it:—

In honour of the children’s classic, “ Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and of Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, ISO6-ISS9, the “ Mary ” of the poem ; Rebecca Kimball the teacher: John Roulstone, author of the first twelve lines : Sarah Josepha Hale, whose genius completed the poem in its present form. This building incorporates the original “ Redstone ” schoolhouse, scene of the poem, which stood in the Second School District of Sterling, Massachusetts. It was in use from 1759 to 1856 and was removed to this spot for its preservation by Mr and Mrs Henry Ford, in 1926.

At a conference recently held in Melbourne the Associated Booksellers of Australia and -New Zealand decided to devote a week—from September 12 to 19, 1927—t0 the featuring of books by Australian and New Zealand authors. To further this purpose a very complete campaign has been laid down, including extra window displays, lectures, and wireless talks from the various broadcasting stations. The Melbourne papers readily agreed to assist in the promulgation of local authors by publishing in their columns photographs, biographical paragraphs, and reviews during the week allotted to the campaign. It was therefore suggested that the entire press of Australasia be asked to co-operate in this endeavour to bring before the people of Australia and New Zealand their own authors. -