WHAT LONDON IS READING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21084, 9 July 1938, Page 12

WHAT LONDON IS READING

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE DICTATORS LIGHT COMEDY IN FICTION (Specially written for "The Timaru Herald" by Charles Pilgrim) LONDON, May 26. For lovers of literature one of the most interesting events each year is the announcement of the Femina-Vie Heurguse prize-winner. This award, worth £4O, is made annually, upon the advice of an English Committee, by the two well-known Paris magazines whose names go to form its title; and it is given to a writer whose work is deemed to have received insufficient recognition. A similar award, known as the Heinemann Prize, is granted annually for the benefit of French Literature. This year the winner of the FeminaVie Heureuse Prize is Mr Richard Church for his novel "The Porch”; and the Heinemann Prize has been awarded to Comte Guy de Pourtales for his “La Peche Miraculeuse,” which has already won recognition from the French Academy. A Scholarly Survey At a time when our minds are being constantly challenged by events and disturbances in the international sphere, the question often presents itself as to how far the devotee of literature is entitled to ignore the spate of pleomical books that is being continuously thrown off the printing presses in these 'anxious days. Ought we to mix our usual reading matter with an occasional ‘topical’ work of non-fictional kind, so as not to incur the self-reproach of being shallow escapists? Thousands of quite ordinary people must have been putting themselves such queries in recent months; but unfortunately their choice of works cannot have been too selective, if one is to judge by the phenomenal success that has been achieved by certain rather mediocre works, whose chief virtue seems to lie in "putting over” current international affairs with the methods of modern journalism. Professor R. W. Seton-Watson’s masterly analysis of events from the Peace Treaties onwards is in quite a different class from these rude superficial attempts at educating the general reader in regard to International problems; and it would repay a hundred-fold any serious-minded person anxious about Britain's present position in Europe to invest in a copy of "Britain and the Dictators” (Cambridge University Press). For here one will And a sober, logical and authoritative account of all the material factors that have gone towards bringing the world face to face with what may well be the supreme crisis in its history. Of course the book is controversial In certain parts—but what book worth having is not going to be controversial, if it deals with the highly contentious subject of the Peace Treaties and their aftermath? The main point, however, is that the author uses his vast knowledge to illuminate his arguments, and not distort tire views of others. One never feels that the book is an essay in exhibitionism and more concerned with showing-off than with instruction. The chief theme is Britain’s relations with the three totalitarian States— Russia, Germany and Italy; and there is a most valuable discussion of other related matters as well, the whole designed to give one a well balanced picture of the International scene. Hitler’s hatred of Russia, Stalin’s reorientation of foreign policy, Mussolini's attitude to Britain—all these and many more vital topics are explained with integrity and great knowledge. Anyone wanting a good reliable guide to International problems of to-day should get acquainted with this volume at one. Light Comedy Mrs Angela Thirkell’s latest novel, "Pomfret Towers” (Hamish Hamilton), lives up to the best traditions that she and other modern English writers have established in this kind of light literature. All the Ingredients of a well told and amusing story are here, seasoned by the right quality of philosophic observation and characterdrawing—to establish veracity without destroying entertainment. The theme revolves around a weekend party in the imposing house of an Earl, who generally manages to be rude to people but has his good moments when he really can be nice. The chief guest in the house is a woman writer with the ability to turn out a bestseller annually; and a good deal of Mrs Thirkell’s subtle ironic genius is devoted to deflating this scream of a character and her two impossible offspring—one a very “highbrow” young artist and the other a girl of the most ordinary sort.

Quite a number of other recognisable types are etched into this week-end picture as well, including a harassed

publisher, a fruity arch-deacon and some marvellous huntin’ folk. The whole melange has been deftly brought together and one never loses interest in the very representative assemblage—even though the things that most of them say or do are of little account.