WHAT LONDON IS READING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20610, 26 December 1936, Page 17

WHAT LONDON IS READING

NEW NOVEL BY THE POET LAUREATE VICTORIAN SPIRIT IN LITERATURE (BY CHARLES PILGRIM) LONDON, November 5 Our Poet Laureate, Mr John Masefield, is apt to puzzle his critics and readers at times, when he turns aside from poetry to novel writing. Not in all his novels do we feel this slight puzzlement. Or, if we do, the rollicking adventureousness of his tales, the delightful romance and fantastic melodrama of such of his books as "Sard Harker" and “Odtaa," carry us happily along with no time for pondering on the meaning of it all. But "Eggs and Baker” (Heinemann 7s 6d) is not like any others of his works of fiction. It is, in its way, a plain though moving tale of Gloucestershire back in the ’7o's. Robert Mansell, a baker, lives in a country town and tumbles into a deal of trouble through his radical views and his desire to right a great many wrongs of poverty and politics. He becomes deeply Interested in a poor half-wit known as the Magpie and puts up money for the Magpie’s defence when he is charged with murder. The trial scenes, told with all Mr Masefield’s skill, take up a large part of the baker’s story and grip our attention. We feel Mansell’s growing Indignation as he sees the evidence piled up against the unfortunate accused, and the incident of the eggs, which he wrathfully throws at the judge seems to follow quite naturally upon the Court's verdict. Meanwhile, Mansell’s business has suffered: he loses more and more customers, though his wife and son struggle valiantly to restore their lost fortunes. The end, however, is a happy one, if not in keeping with the realism of the subject and its general treatment. For Mansell's story his problems and trials are told in a simple, realistic way. There is little room for fantasy here, and, perhaps, all the more because of the lack of it, one seeks an underlying message. But “Eggs and Baker” is the first of a trilogy in which its author has planned to tell the story of an English family, so it may be that a message, a subtle meaning, will reveal itself in the following books. Costume Piece Miss Georgette Heyer can produce the costume comedy very well indeed. Her stage in “The Talisman Ring” is nearly peopled by a silent hero, number 2, and a couple of fair young heroines. Which is just about as promising material as that out of which the author made her highly readable “Gay Adventure.” There is truly nothing unusual in this scene. It may be accounted all too familiar, but Miss Heyer sprinkles her lively humour over all, throws plenty of adventure into the tale, a little detective work in connection with hero number 2’s lost ring which can clear him of a charge of murder, and covers all with gay romance. Moreover, she knows her chosen period and can convey the necessary atmosphere with ease and a welcome brevity in words. Historic costume sits lightly on the shoulders of her characters. They move quickly, even if it be by horse and coach, and neither the vapours, nor trailing petticoats can hide the fact that in Miss Thane and ,Mademoiselle de Vauban we have two very ’bright young things’ equal to their brightest sisters of to-day. A cheerful, pleasant romance. Spanish Romance "Mary Lavello” by Kate O’Brien (Heinemann 7s 8d) is a worthy successor to her long-t O-be-remembered first novel, “Without My Cloak” for which she received the Hawthorden Prize four years ago. The new book is an exquisite piece of work over which Miss O’Brien has obviously spent meticulous care and considerable artistry. This time she has taken the Spanish scene In 1922 and her chief characters are Mary Lavelle, a young Irish girl employed by a rich and noble Spanish family, her three charges, Pilar, Nieves and Milagros and the Senora and Senor Areavaga. Then, there is Juanita, the Areavaga's only son with whom Mary falls passionately in love. We get a vivid impression of Spain and things Spanish through the eyes of Miss O’Brien's heroine, who immerses herself in the new atmosphere of life on the fashionable Basque coast and finds herself unaccountably attracted by the country and its people. So much so that she drifts apart from her simple Irish betrothed to find a fleeting happiness in her passion for Juanite. But Juanlte is married and the book ends, as one feels it must, on a note of sadness. The lovers part, though in the hope that they will some day meet again. We feel that they may and that the author will give us a continuation of “Mary Lavelle.” It would be very welcome indeed. The War Makers To-day, owing partly to the recent Government inquiries in the United States and partly to the general fear of war in Europe, there is a widespread interest in the doings and machinations of those who make the weapons of war. This Interest has been used by Mr A. G. Macdonell in his new novel, “Lords and Masters” (Macmillan 7s 6d). Those who know this author’s work, both in the field of fiction and journalism, will know that he is well acquainted with political affairs generally. The Lords and Masters of this book are just these makers of war weapons who are credited, or discredited, with being the makers of the wars. The chief character is James Hanson, a steel and armament manufacturer on the largest scale. In the beginning Hanson is shown as one who counts business and the consequent profit before anything else In his own words, “Peace isn't any use to the steel trade.” Bo he deliberately makes a war. Later, developing a new and humaner consciousness, he loses his life in trying to prevent another war. That Is the bare outline of the story, but Mr Macdonell embellishes it with a vast wealth of satirical detail. Clearly he has a widespread knowledge of the men and women who, to use < cant phrase, “make history.” He throws a searching light on the weaknesses of politicians and diplomats. He does hot hesitate to aim his shafts at the

clergy and the soldiers. He is in deadly earnest, but his method is lighthanded. One need not take all that he says quite literally, but one fears that many of his implied strictures are only too fully justified and that in “Lords and Masters" he has exposed to the public gaze something of the seamy side of life in the most distinguished and elevated places. The Quiet Times Two writings of Mr R. H. Mpttram may be divided into two parts: those which may be classified as war books and those which deal with the quiet life in that Norfolk town and countryside where he and his forebears were born and bred. "Portrait of an Unknown Victorian” (Robert Hals 12s 6d) is a book to be placed in the latter category. Its subject is believed to be that of Mr Mottram’s own father who is followed through a long life. It may be called very truly a pre-War book, and the author with his only too intimate knowledge of the horrors of the War itself and the miseries and confusions which have followed it, obviously looks back on those quiet times at the beginning of the nineteenth century and earlier with a longing eye.

The “Unknown Victorian” is a man who would be accounted now as utterly out-of-date. His ideal and his goal was a quiet life in the quiet bank in the quiet East Anglican town. The spirit of his being and the spirt of his age were represented by two words “security" and “comfort.” Some may account him very softlsh and unimaginative, but Mr Mottram with a sympathetic pen draws the picture of a charming character.