NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS REVIEWED

THE TRIUMPH OF THE AIRMAN.

“The Mastery of the Air,” by William J. Claxton. Blackie & Son Ltd., London, per A. d. Fyfe Wd., New Plymouth. Price 5/-.

“The Mastery of the Air’* is one of the most recent and most thrilling volumes in the excellent “Enterprise Library.’’ As. thte prefaces states, the book endeavours “to set forth the romance of triumph in the realms of an element which has defied man for untold centuries.” The story is well told. The inventions of the “lighter than air balloon,” from the French paper-maker who found he could make paper bags rise By filling them with smoke, right through the past 150 years to the development of the huge Zeppelin airships is told in clear, concise language. It is a wonderful story, how wonderful ' the average individual does not realise until he sees in a few chapters the history of the airship told without any effort to stir enthusiasm yet of which the facts afford a thrill on nearly every page. But if the lighter-than-air enthusiasts had the field first they have had successful though friendly rivals since the internal-combustion engine made the modern aeroplane a possibility. Taranaki folk have had a great reminder of the triumph of the airman this week in the plans of Mr. Ulm to fly to New Plymouth. Any young people who are thoroughly interested in aviation will appreciate this volume. It would make an excellent gift, and it is probable that older folk will find it as entrancing as it will be to any budding Kingsford Smith or Amy Mollison. POLITICS AND PASSION. “In the Midst of the Years,” by Joan Sutherland. Cassell & Co. Ltd., Melbourne, per A. J, Fyfe Ltd., New Plymouth. Miss Sutherland has given a very faithful sketch of politics and politicians in Great Britain in. the period a little over two years ago when the National Government was formed, and under very thinly veiled disguises she introduces the reader to many who have achieved fame or notoriety in public affairs in the Homeland. As a story “In the Midst of the Years” suffers somewhat from' the political discussions that are reported at such length. They are of conditions that have altered considerably and the conclusions arrived at have already been considerably modified by challenging circumstance. The book is chiefly the story of Adrian Le Salle, a Canadian with a drop of Red Indian blood in his veins, handsome as any hero of “Quida’s ’ day. and with an affection for England that no stay-at-home Briton can surpass. Adrian has just quarrelled with the Labour Ministry and resigned a high administrative post in Egypt. On his way home he meets at his sister’s place in Italy Lucia Selwyn. Her beauty sweeps Adrian off his feet and they are married after a short engagement. Adrian thought his bride an innocent girl. As a matter of fact she was a highly sophisticated young woman who had indulged in more than one “affair” before she meet Adrian. He had decided

to take up politics on his return to England, and the reaction of his devotion to his public duties upon his relations with his wife make up the story. Adrian is by way of being a bit of prig, and if Lucia is a young hussy it is impossible not to feel that she had some grievances on her side. Scenes from life in high society and of the. excitement that surrounds big political changes are given lavishly. They bear the impress of honest belief and a good deal of personal experience, though some of them, particularly in regard to the “great newspaper proprietor” strike one as just too highly coloured to be true. Nevertheless a very readable volume.