WHAT TIMARU IS READING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 12

WHAT TIMARU IS READING

LIVELY NOVEL BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER SECRETS OF THE SECRET SERVICE (Specially written for “The Timaru Herald" by A. K. Elliot) “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and a chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodgekeeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited. No smoke came from the chimney, and the little lattice windows gaped forlorn. Then, like all dreamers, I was possessed of a sudden with supernatural powers and passed like a spirit through the barriers before me.” This is the opening paragraph of a most outstanding novel. "Rebecca,’ by Daphne Du Maurier, granddaughter of the famous author of “Trilby,” and of that supernatural "Peter Ibbletson.” Rebecca whose presence is felt all through the book, creates the atmosphere in Manderley—a beautiful English country home, with long green lawns stretching to the sea, the wide stone steps before the terrace, a perfect frame for a house of beautiful symmetry. The teller of the story, the new bride who comes to Manderley, is haunted by the presence of this Rebecca out of the past—Rebecca the gay and beautiful—drowned in a boat in the sea at the foot of tthe Manderiey gardens. lire new chatelaine of Manawe of her position and the shadow of derley is timid, and overwhelmed with Rebecca. The book works up to a startling revelation, and is certainly one of the readable novels of the year.

In the Realm of Spies

“All's Fair,” by Captain Henry Landau, is the story of the British Secret Service, and in the preface we read, “One of my chief objects in writing this book is to place on record the splendid services which the Secret Service agents of Belgian and French nationality rendered the Allied cause during the War. It is time that the world should be informed about these brave men and women, hundreds of whom heroically gave up their lives or suffered imprisonment for their country. By far the greater majority ot those who were employed by the British Secret Service in the occupied territories of Belgium and France, and in Germany, worked directly under me as their Immediate Chief in the Field, and I was the only one who knew, not only every thread which connected them with me, but also the exact value of the information which each agent sent out.” And so we read of "The Biggest Scoop of the War," “International Warfare,” "Peace Time Secret Service,” "Successful Failure in Soviet Russia,” —all fascinating chapters. At the finish, when all is over, the author wonders what he is to do, he has no plans—and there was his career —grown somewhat dimmed during the last years, but beckoning him on as he caught glimpses of it in the mist of life which had enveloped him. And so he listened to the call of South Africa—the rolling veldt called to him | once more, and so did his grand old ' pioneer father. He knew a great deal I about government; he had gained unique experience of it in many lands; there were his University qualifications; he was sure he could get into one of the ministries. He would dedicate the rest of his Ufe to his native land. Having made his decision, hope seized him once more; he packed his bag, and within twenty-four hours was on board the "Armadale Castle,” steaming past the Isle of Wight, en route for South Africa.

The Spanish Quarrel

A life of General Franco is very interesting. “Francisco Franco,” written by Joaquin Arrarras, who has followed Franco’s career for twenty years, reveals the writer's access to unpublished documents and personal records. As the cover says, "He is concerned not with discussing the rights and wrongs of the Spanish quarrel, but with presenting a portrait of the man and with giving an account of his career in Spain and Morocco. He shows him as a Captain at the age of twenty and a General at thirty-two, the maker of Spain’s Foreign Legion, the Commandant of the Spanish Sandhurst, and a semi-exile in the Canaries.” Through a Dancer’s Eyes “A Dancer in Madrid” is written by Janet Riesenfeld, an American of Austrian descent. In the introduction, which, she says, must be read, is the following: “This book is an autobiography covering less than six months of my life. Brief as they were and swiftly as they passed, those months altered the whole pattern of my existence. I went to Spam a thoughtless, self-sufficient girl of twenty-one. Like thousands of others, I read the newspapers and shared in heated discussions about what w»s going on in the world, but I always felt it was happening very far from me and I need not concern myself very seriously about it. I returned with a deep awareness of others, not only those who were close by, but those who had always seemed to be vary far away.” The book is full of interesting episodes. Trained as a dancer, Miss Riesenfeld accepts a position in a Madrid theatre, and arrives from America in time for the opening of the Revolution. Finding her way into Spain barred, she at last manages to get in through the fact that, knowing the Spanish language, she is taken as interpreter to several Press men. Her experiences in Barcelona, and then later in Madrid, make very vivid reading. Her friends, her dancing-partners, all are involved in the Revolution, and in both parties, and her sympathies sway in both directions.