NEW BOOKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16233, 31 March 1917, Page 3

NEW BOOKS.

'GOG." jVfr Arthur .Fetterless, in writing "Gog,'' whicli is'a'war. story, tells us that nis object has been to '•fashion a 'whole' true story picture of war as it works around the individual," to "give an honest average picture of war conditions, neither better nor worse than the reality." For that task he; was well qualified, because he had been at the Front and wounded there, and because, as his book shows, he possseses the sympathy" and powers of observation as well as the literary skill needed by the novelist. "Gog" is a young Scotsman. His father, a. Highland soldier, is dead before the war breaks out. His mother strongly approves of "Gog's" enlistment, though he is her only son, and so also does his London guardian, whose daughter gives him his claymore and makes "Gog'*'' her knight. The story is a picture of home life in. war time as well as of life at the Front. It has humour, it has pathos, and one feels constantly that it has truth. It is moving and exalting 'as "-a story, and its pictures of British fighting men and war incidents could not easily be surpassed. The "Jocks" are in a barn on a damp night:

"The first voice to start the chorus of melancholy was a deep bass voice. 'Hear the rain!' he said. 'Aye. It's always rainin' in this blooinin' country.'—'lt's no a country at all. It's a pond o' mud flats.'—'Aye.' It gi'es one the jiblins that much that aa, liavena laughed since aa came into it?—'Ha, ha, ha, ha!' This peal of laughter apparently proceeded from another corner of the barn. 'What the 'oil are you laughin' at?'—'You! . .

You lio,*nn Laughed! . . I sa4W ye laughin' fit to burst the other day, and a d;inm funny time it was too.'—'When?' 'When Tammy jVucklo died.'—Tammv

Nuckle?' The first speaker spoke meditatively.'"' 'Aye, au, liiiow wnat ye're thinkin'. But unto was different.'--.-'Howl'"—'Weil, id was-.the queer way it happened.'—\linphm!' The questioner's voice sounded disbelievingly. 'Well, it was like this. . . Ye see aa was sitting just a lew yards from Tammy, but aa wasna lookin' at" him. Aa heard some bullets go whistliu' by, but aa didna think any one was hit. Aa happened to look tip, suid aa saiv Tammy make a funny wriggle, and smiled like, as he said 'That's done it,' speaking very quiet. Then he sort of turned on his side., But.it was all such a funny-like thing that aa started laughing. Aa didna ken that anythin' was wrang. When aa'd stopped laughin' aa said, 'What's done it, Tammy?' but he said nothing. Then aa came an awful fright. I got up and walked to him and said, 'Tammv, what's the matter?' but Tammy wsw dead. . . And aa've aye been sorry that aa laughed. . . Aa wouldna have laughed if'aa'd a kenned.' For some time a.fter the story had been told there was silence in the barn."

"Gog" is worth rendincr, as n wnr book and as a novel. Blackwood's Colonel Library, 2s 6d and 3s 6d. ' (P. W. Hutton and Co., local agents.)

AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING. - There are still readers who can recall the thrill of bushranging tales, dressed to please the palate of townsfolk." And these will, find much to interest them m the two volumes of "Australian Bushranging"—-by G. E."Buxall (Angus and Robertson, Sydney). .For the romantic is carefully omitted to make room for the eober and usually unpleasant facts of the case- As the author warns us. he lias collected and arranged the bushranging outrages of , earlier days that they may servo as a icliable record of this disturbing period of Australia's history. He freely' admits that "the story is a terrible one. Some of the inoidents are revolting, but it is necessary that even those should be told to show how civilised man may be defended by unjust and oppressive laws." The stories of all the "bushrangers known to Australia and New Zeala-nd. are included, and not a few readers will find those which have been .used, for romantic purposes, in "The Term of His Natural Life", and "Robbery under Arras." most interestinig in their: original form for purposes of comparison. "HACK'S BRAT." In some respects this novel by lan MacLeod reminds one of the stories of Californian gold-digging. There is a. similar background of lough, miners, handy wJoh their guns-and fond of assembling at the shanty bar. A young Sydney engineer goes to try his luck, and has thrust upon him the guardianship of a little waif of a girl known' as "The Brat." Hack, who had brought her into the oamp, died, and bequeathed her to McLure, who, discovering her beautiful voice, determined to educate her as, fl. songster. He succeeded under great' difficulties. The child was quite wild, her language a. string of obscenities, to begin with. In the end, her parentage is discovered, and McLure, loving her I in her grown-up days, marries her. But this is giving only a fedble sketch of a very vivid and well written novel. There is careful portraiture .and close study of types, and the consistency of tlie character drawing is one of the charms 'of "a book well worth reading. j Hodder and Stoughton, Publishers, I P. W.. Button, and Co., local agents, 2s 6d and 3s 6d.