BOOK* OF THE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 17 (Supplement)

BOOK* OF THE WEEK

POLITICS AND WAR

(By

C.E.)

“Adventure,” by Major-General the Bight Hon. J. E. B. Seely: William Heinemann, Ltd., London, through Thos. Avery and Sons, Ltd., New Plymouth. Heinemann’s Crown Library is, I should say, one of the most remarkable ventures the publishing world has ever seen; indeed, the Sunday Times boldly described it as “the best thing of its kind that has ever been done.” In this library one can obtain for 5s each—lees than the price of a novel that one would read and throw away—a number of books published within very recent times at far higher figures.' The one I have before me now, General Seely’s most fascinating life-story, only made its appearance last year, in an edition issued at 21s, yet to-day it can be bought for barely one-fourth of that money. And not in a cheap-looking edition. ‘ The Crown Library books are well bound in stout cloth, clearly printed in large type on good book paper, and. so far as I have seen them, very efficiently illustrated. In a list of 14 or I's of these volumes that I have seen there is not one that a judicious reader would not be glad to • have on his shelves. Everyone who is- intelested in. contemporary literature that really is literature w’ould do well to give his -bookseller a standing order for the Crown Library volumes, and thus build up a library of his own in which he could take, a great pride. Of those books of the Crown Library I have seen there is none I .should prefer to General Seely's personal narrative of a life full of the most vivid action. It is really astounding to discover how much adventure this gallant, modest and cheerful soldier and politician has packed into something less than the allotted span. His title .is well chosen, for, as the Earl of Birkenhead points out in. his foreword, “Jack Seely”- has survived, not once but. often, an apparently certain death by each of the four elements —earth, air, fire and water. “No man can claim more.’’ says Birkenhead. “But this is only one'side of his career. He has held high administrative office, fought with the utmost gallantry in two wars, acted for many years as a member of a famous lifeboat crew, and practised at the Bar.” It is suggested by Lord Birkenhead that a contemporary.or future Dumas might consider making Seely the principal hero of a book of adventure no wlilt less sensational .than “The Three Musketters,” and would find him as gay, as gallant, as debonair, and,- often, as rash as D’Artagnan. , Lord Birkenhead's appraisement is shrewd enough to appeal to every reader of “Adventure,” . for General Seely tagnan. But whereas Dumas was deSeely as the principal hero of a book has' made ho attempt to embellish a plain narrative. Its virtue and its charm lie in the simple frankness of his account of great men and great events', its lifelike presentation of everyday life in the Mother of Parliaments, on the battlefields of .Europe, and just occasionally of. an incident in the domestic life of an uncommonly kind and sincere English gentleman. A more intensely human story it would not be easy to find. The first two or three chapters quickly engage one’s most eager attention, especially the record of Seely’s voyage to New Zealand in 1802. With his friends Tom Jonolly and Lord Burford he journeyed in the old Kaikoura, commanded by the famous Captain Crutchley, Seely and Conolly acting as able seamen on a most exciting voyage. The friends rode from Wellington through Wanganui to Taupo, where they met Te Kooti about a year before his death, and on through the King Country, receiving special permission as friends, of Queen Victoria. Seely fell in love with a beautiful Maori maiden, and but for his friends might have become a pakeha Maori. An enthusiastic yeomanry officer,. he volunteered "with his men for service in South Africa, and his experiences there make most interesting reading. As a member of Parliament, Under-Secretary in the Colonial Office, and finally as Secretary of State for War, he was to have close relations with South Africa in later years, and his comments, on the country and the people are illuminating. An Under-Seere'tary in 1909, he took charge of the War Office about three years later, and resigned in March, 1914, feeling this necessary owing to a leakage of information relating to Ireland. When the Great War occurred Colonel Seely became special service officer to the Expeditionary- Force. In April, HH ! e> Kitchener promoted him to brigadier’s rank and gave him command of a Canadian brigade, and until May, 1918, when gas at length compelled him to be invalided home, thia remarkable man was always in the Tront line or near it. General Seely’s record indicates that he has exceptional qualifications as a contemporary historian. Both as politician and as soldier he is simple, earnest and sincere, a man with an unusual outlook in that he is always able to see the brightest side and to await the future with a calm hopefulness. He is, one would deduce, an essentially friendly man; it is obvious that he has enjoyed great friendships with some of the most notable men of his generation; With his natural kindliness he gives his readers a rather new outlook on the political life of the Old Country, and because he moved in high places he is able to tell much that most of us have only guessed at. His war story is as enlightening as it is thrilling, for he was the friend of all his men and shared every danger with them. One feels that he writes the plain truth. War as he saw 'it is not the fantastic creation of the “best seller”; war, he shrewdly says, .is “as ennobling to the combatants as it is demoralising to the onlookers.”

Both the reader of thrillers and the student of affairs will place. General Seely among their favourite authors.

Spring and summer ahipments of Juvenile Books are arriving, including the popular Annuals, Bumper Books, Happy Books, Oxford Big Books, Adventure Books, etc. Never before has such a lar"e and varied choice of juvenile books been available to the local public. The coming Christmas is going to be a Children’s QhUstmaa. Make your selection now. Thos. Avery & Sons, Ltd., Booksellers,. New Plymouth.*