BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 4084, 21 June 1932, Page 65

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

There is announced the third ‘volume of “ A Picture Book of British History,” covering, in a series of about 250 pictures, the period from-the accession of William 111 to the death of- Queen Victoria. Mr S. C. Roberts, the secretary of the Press, is the editor of this series. Each illustration is accompanied by an explanatory note.

It was to add their mark to the opening of the New Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon by the Prince of Wales on Shakespeare’s birthday that the Cambridge University Press fixed the date of publication (April 23) for Dr J. Dover Wilson’s book “ The Essential Shakespeare.”

“ Ice-Cold Marriage ” is the curious title of Miss Christine Jope-Slade’s new novel. The book finds an answer to the modern marriage puzzle—-a happy answer, too.

Mr Sidney Dark and Mr P. G. Konody, the art critic, are to collaborate in a life of the late Sir William Orpen, which may be expected some time in the autumn of this year.

A successor to Lieutenant-colonel Graham Seton Hutchison’s “Footslogger” is to be called “Warrior,” and will involve a good deal of information and criticism of details of the war in France As “Graham Seton” Colonel Hutchison is known far and wide for his war mystery story “ The ‘ W ’ Plan.”

Mr Hector Bolitho, author of a recently- published life of “Albert the Good,” is spending a holiday at Lady Erleigh’s house on the shores of the Lake of Galilee.

Miss Rebecca West, the novelist, is represented in this season’s publishing lists by a book called “ Particular Graces,” a volume of literary essays founded on her weekly literary articles for the Daily Telegraph. One essay, “ Cardan’s Emerald,’’ discusses Miss West’s ideas upon the special function of the novel and how far certain modern forms of fiction are compatible with these.

Those who are publishing Theodore Dreiser’s new book, “A Hoosier Holiday,” the story of the author’s pilgrimage to the scenes of his youth in Indiana, are bringing out a “ London divertissement ” by Thomas Burke, entitled “ City of Encounters.”

There is announced a new volume of verse by Edwin Muir, to be issued in a limited edition under the title ” Six Poems,” and a collection of -Scottish

nursery rhymes, to come later in the year, entitled, “ Nicht at Eenie, the Bairns’ Parnassus,” illustrated with wood engravings by lain Mac Nab.

The play by George Kaufman an-1 Moss Hart, entitled, “ Once in a Lifetime,” a satire on Hollywood, which has had a great success on the American stage, has been published.

There is to be published immediately the memoirs of Paymaster Rear-admiral Sir Hamnet Share, entitled, “ Under Great Bear and Southern Cross.” A detailed account is included of Lord Jellicoe’s naval mission to India and the Dominions, which the author accompanied, after the war. Lord Jellicoe has contributed a foreword to the book.

The second and final volume of the “ Official History of the Gallipoli Campaign,” by Brigadier-general C. F. As-pinall-Oglander, is announced for publication.

A centennial edition of the complete works of 11. P. Blavatsky, edited by A. Trevor Barker, is announced. The earlier volumes will consist of articles by Madame Blavatsky originally published in English, French, and Russian journals. The later volumes will contain reprints of her books.

The Grand Duke Alexander of Russia, who has written an account of the closing years of the Tsarist regime and the beginning of Bolshevism (“Once a Grand Duke”), is a cousin and brother, in-law of the murdered Tsar Nicholas 11. His adventurous spirit took him all ov,er the world, he is said to have known the inside story of every Russian political intrigue in London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, and is the only living witness of the tragic death of his uncle, Tsar Alexander 11.

Mr W. B. Yeats, the celebrated Irish poet, who has lately been visiting London, hopes to establish an Irish Academy of Letters in Dublin. He will probably have the support of Mr Bernard Shaw. Mr James Joyce, Mr Liam O’Flaherty, and other Irish men of letters.

Professor Hans Tegner, famous as the illustrator of Hans Andersen’s fairv tales, has died at Copenhagen, aged 75.

Two hitherto unknown Dickens letters and one of the earliest-known letters of Robert Burns came recently up for sale in London. Dickens was writing to Thomas Tegg, the Cheapside publisher, and Burns to Thomas Orr, the son of an Ayrshire farm labourer and a former schoolfellow.

Fran Vicki Baum, whose new book is called “ Secret Sentence,” has lately been paying a visit to London.

Mrs Monro, widow of Mr Harold Monro, the poet, who died recently, intends to carry on the Poetry Bookshop in Bloomsbury under her own proprietorship.

Miss Nellie M. Scanlan, the New Zealand novelist, is a relation by marriage of Mr Thomas Rodgers, the first white child to be born in Wellington, New Zealand. Miss Scanlan’s latest novel is “ Pencarrow.”

Professor H. L. Stewart, who is now Professor of Philosophy in the Canadian University of Dalhousie, has written a book of extraordinary interest in “ Modernism, Past and Present,” in which he traces past manifestations of the modern and inquiring spirit, and surveys the present situation, which is not, he thinks, nearly so settled as it

would appear to be. Altogether a book to make one think.

A novel with the charming title of “ Spring Song” is announced. Its author is Farquhar Sloan, author of “ Guarded Watch ” and “ The Dividing Years,” and its theme, as the title suggests, is all of young love, young hope, and young despair, with exciting doings before a happy ending is at last reached.

Mrs Vera Wheatley won a distinct success with her previous novel, “ Single Handed,” which was termed by one distinguished critic “ flawless.” In her new novel, “ Miraculous Bread,” she has taken a wider canvas, a more dramatic plot. Her portrait of modern life, and of the troubles and perplexities of this generation is at once penetrating and sympathetic.