BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 4069, 8 March 1932, Page 65

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Lord Russell (Mr Bertrand Russell) recently returned to England from a lecture tour in America.

A new book on “ India and the British,” is by Patricia Kendall, an American writer.

A copy of Shelley’s “Address to the Irish People,” published .in Dublin, has been sold for £7O.

A new book by Dr R. J. Campbell is entitled “ Christian Faith in Modern Light.”

Among the names in the New Year Honours List was that of Colonel John Buchan, M.P., who became a Companion of Honour.

“The Best Short Stories of 1931,” edited by E. J. O’Brien is in two volumes, one English, the other American.

Mrs Mary Hugos, of Ty-issa Farm, Llangollen—the original Mary (so it was said) who “ had a little lamb ” —has died at the age of 91.

Mr Padraic Colum’s “ Poems ” contains a number of new verses, as well as other poetical works of the author.

A pair of Byron’s slippers have been presented to Harrow School, and will be placed in the Vaughan library which already contains his watch and his duelling pistols.

Mr and Mrs Bernard Shaw have left England for a holiday’ in South Africa. They hope to be away for two or three months.

Mr Norman Collins surveys the whole field of English prose fiction from Samuel Richardson to James Joyce in his book of essays in biographical criticism, entitled “ The Facts of Fiction.”

Mr Bertram Thomas, who has lately written another book dealing with his adventures in Arabia, became Finance Minister to the Sultan of Muscat at the age of 35. He held the position for five years.

“ England in Palestine,” by Norman Bentwich, 0.8. E., M.C., is an account of the administration of Palestine from the time of the military occupation of Lord Allenby to the present day.

Mr J. Al. Denwood, author of “ Red Ike,” is to publish a new novel shortly. It will be called “ John Peel,” and is partly founded on fact. Mr Denwood knew John Peel’s sons in his younger davs.

The first two volumes of Roger Martin Du Gard’s “ Les Thibaults ” in the authorised translation by Stephen Haden Guest are announced. The translation will be published in one volume under the title of “The Thibaults: Part I.”

Mr Edward Percy, author of the novel “ Eastward Drift,” lives near Romney Marshes, which is the scene of part of his book. Before he took to playwriting and poetry Mr Percy held an important position in the city.

The new’ Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon is to be opened on April 23. Shakespeare lovers will be interested to hear that the new librarian, Mr Alfred Wareing, has installed a bookshelf containing all recent Shakespearian publications of importance. Visitors may inspect these books at their leisure.

Dr Wingfield-Stratford has a new work coming out —“ They That Take the Sword,” a contribution to the cause of peace and disarmament. Critical chapters are included on the great captains of history, as well as an analysis of the leaders on both sides in the war of 1914-18.

Miss Grace Stebbing, who has just finished a new’ novel called “ The Laird’s Daughter,” is in her ninety-second year. She is the author of over 70 books of various kinds. Science is her greatest interest, and she has been attending the meetings of the British Association for nearly 55 years.

Under the name of Denig Archer the Search Publishing Company is launching a subsidiary enterprise for the purpose of producing works of fiction, belles lettres, bibliography, and the like. Denis Archer’s spring list will include “For the Train,” a collection of Lewis Carroll’s early work, arranged, with a preface, by Hugh J. Schonfield.

Jan and Cora Gordon arrived in London the other day, having just finished another of their “vagabond” tours. This time it was a motor cycle journey through France, Ireland, and parts of England. They are already at work on a book about it which they will call “ Three Lands on Three Wheels ” —the third wheel being that of the sidecar.

A memoir of “ Sir George Otto Trevelyan, 0.M.,” is by his son, Professor George Macaulay Trevelyan, O.M. New material is incorporated about Macaulay and the Trevelyan family circle in which he moved; Carlyle, Disraeli," Gladstone, and others. The last chapter describes Sir George Trevelyan’s life in his country house, where, after retirement from politics, he wrote “ The American Revolution.”

Angela Thirkell (Mrs George Thirkell), who has written an autobiography up to the age of eight, called “Three Houses,” is a granddaughter of Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Two of the “ Three Houses ” are her grandfather’s—at London and Rottingdean —and the other is the Kensington home where she was born. Mrs Thirkell is a brother of Mr Denig iMackail, the novelist, her parents being Professor and Mrs Mackail.

Sir Alfred Pease has had a varied life and in a delightfully descriptive book, “ Elections and Recollections,” he tellw us about his political life in the Gladstonian Home Rule days, interspersed with some excellent sporting stories. He quotes largely from his very graphic and outspoken diaries, and this, coupled with his impressions of leaders of all parties, with whom he was on very friendly terms, makes excellent reading.

“‘The Devil Take Her!’: A Study of the Rebellious Lover in English Poetry,” by Louis B. Salomon, is being issued immediately. The quotations, strung together with a running commentary, are arranged under such chapter headings as “ Farewell to Love,” “ Personal Revolts,” “ Equal Rights,” and “ Reminders of Mortality.”

Two volumes are announced of a new series, to be known as “ The Little Craft Books,” the general editor of which is Mr F. V. Burridge, late head, of the L.C.C. School of Arts and Crafts. One volume is devoted to “Lithography as a Fine Art,” by Mr A. S. Hatrick, who

begins with a history of lithography from its discovery and then gives an illustrated description of the .process in action. The other contains a similar survey of “ Furniture and Furnishing,” by Mr John C. Rogers, illustrated with line drawings by the author.

Lovely Jennifer Lingard was young, and she theorised upon the business she called “ Life,” planned her actions accordingly, and expected happiness to follow’ as a matter of course. But somehow it did not. She continued her own determined way, confident and flouting convention, but the gate of her dreams remained closed until David, with different ideas, met her at the same gate. Miss Daisy Fisher, who tells their story in “The Gate Swings Open,” is definitely “ wise about love,” and she has used her wisdom in this intriguing third novel.