FROM Bookstall and Study.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 5

FROM Bookstall and Study.

The best books are those which every reader feels that he could have written; the natural, which alone is good, is entii ely familiar and common.—Pascal. A Bill is to lie laid before the. Greek Parliament to prohibit the publication cf stories about brigands, as it is said that these have a harmful effect on boys and damage the reputation of the country abroad. Mr D. H. Lawrence, who has come into conflict with the censor more than any other writer of his time, has written a pamphlet “ Pornography and Obscenity,” in which he endeavours to explain a much misunderstood point of view. M. Andre Maurois, the French writer who has already given us fine biographies of Shelley and Disraeli, is now at work on the life of Byron. He is calling his book, “ Don Juan.” In addition to being a portrait of Byron, the author is attempting to give a panorama of Regency England. There were over six hundred entries for the prize novel competition instituted by Jonathan Cape and Co., the publishers. Of this number nearly two hundred came from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. In the fifteenth international poetry contest, promoted in New York, nearly 1000 poems were submitted. The subject "was “Cathedrals.” Mr Joseph Auslander, New York, won the first prize of £37 10s, with a sonnet called “ Cathedrals of the Heart.” John Silver, of Northampton, England, and James A. Tyng, of New York, were deemed equal for the second prize of £l2 10s, Mr Silver with a poem entitled “ York Minster,” and Mr Tyng with one called “ In a Cathedral.” « A brass tablet in memory of Mrs Dunlop, of Dunlop, the friend arid corfesporident of Robert Burns, erected in the parish church by the Dunlop branch of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute, was unveiled and dedicated in September. The Rev J. Ferguson Bayne said that the correspondence between the poet and Mrs Dunlop had been described as one of the finest in the history of literature. Mrs Dunlop was twenty-nine years the poet’s senior, and for nine years she encouraged, advised, rebuked, and befriended as occasion required. j.* jj Mr Stephen Leacock has completed a volume of short stories which is being published under the title of “ The Iron Man and the Tin Woman.” Mr Leacock has a tilt at all manner of modern fads and fancies, and paints for us a picture of the fantastic world of the future. During his convalescence his Majesty the King has been going over the proofs of an important book. This is ‘ King George V. in His Own Words.” It will cover the speeches and messages to his people from the beginning of his public career to the present day. The speeches have been linked up in a running narrative which ought to give them the value of an important document of contemporary history, as well as of an intimate portrait of the King fiimselL

“The Voyage of the Discovery,’* by Captain R. F. Scott, R.N., C.V.O. New edition, published by John Murray, London. There are very many local people, no doubt, who well remember the departure from Lyttelton on December 21, 1901, of the late Captain Scott’s expedition in the Discovery. F'or them, one of the very interesting portions of the record of the voyage is Captain Scott’s appreciative description of the farewell at Lyttelton. “Before noon our small company was collected on the mess-deck and a short service of farewell was held by the Bishop of Christchurch—a simple, touching ceremoriy gratifying to all At 2 p.m. we cast off our warps and steamed slowly out of the harbour, but New Zealand was determined we should know how thoroughly it was interested in our venture and how heartily it wished tis success. Special trains from Christchurch had borne thousands to the port to bid us farewell. Wharves and quays were packed with enthusiastic figures. It was indeed a great send-off; two men-of-war, the Ringarooma and Lizard, steamed out slowly ahead of us, whilst no fewer than five gaily-dressed steamers, crowded with passengers and with bands playing and whistles hooting, thronged about us. Cheer followed cheer as we steamed out towards the Heads; assembled in the rigging, on mast or spar, our small party of adventurers did their best to respond to this kindly expression of good feeling, until, as we entered the open sea, with a last burst of cheering and a final flutter of handkerchiefs, our kind friends turned away, and slowly we steamed out between the warships that seemed to stand as sentinels to the bay.”

The portion dealing with New Zealand makes, of course, an especial appeal to us, but even those present at the port on that memorable day will find numerous incidents of equal interest in ever}'- chapter. For example, there is a portion dealing with a baln. asce nt, showing that the possibilities of aerial observation were fully appreciated by the members of the expedition. After mentioning the difficulties of the transport and inflation of the balloon, Captain Scott continues: “The honour of being the first aeronaut to make an ascent in the Antarctic regions, perhaps somewhat selfishly, I chose for myself, and I may further confess that in so doing I was contemplating the first ascent I had raade in any region, and as I swayed about in what appeared a very inadeclua basket and gazed down on the rapidly diminishing figures below I felt some doubt as to whether I had been wise m my choice. Meanwhile the balloon continued to rise as the wire rope Attached to it was eased, until, at a height of about 500 feet, it was brought to sest by the weight of the rope. I heard the word ‘sand’ borne up from below., and remembered the bags at

my feet; the correct way to have obtained greater buoyancy would have been gradually to empty these over the side of the car, but with thoughtless inexperience 1 seized them wholesale and flung them out, with the result that ‘Eva’ shot up suddenly, and as the rope tightened commenced to oscillate in a manner that was not at all pleasing. Then, as the rope was slackened, I again ascended, but alas! only to be again checked by the weight of the rope at something under 800 feet. . . . But, as it was, my view was very extended, and probably afforded as much information as would have been obtained in a loftier position. It is difficult to imagine anything more graphically descriptive than Captain Scott’s records. With such a tremendous amount of material at his disposal, room could only be found for items and observations of unusual importance, and the reader will find, as Dr Nansen says in his preface: “No one can read this book about his first expedition, and still less his diary written on his last journey, without being thrilled with admiration for this unusual man and his fine qualities.” Undoubtedly this is one of the greatest of all records of travel and discovery.

“The China Venture,” by Dorothy Graham. Published by John Murray, London.

This story’ tells of three generations of Meades, all of whom find excitement and adventure in China. The first is Jared, who as junior partner of a Salim firm goes out in the early days and loses his life in the opium wars. His grandson is the next on the scene, and the latter’s future is peculiar!v influenced during the Boxer rising by the death of his nearest friend and a glimpse of a Manchu noblewoman I hen in one of the risings of to-dav his son comes into the picture, but the unsettled conditions threaten to ruin the young man. His father, following unknowingly in the steps taken bv a Chinese merchant in the opium wars sacrifices his fortune to save his son. Ihe story contains plenty of incident, good local colour, and an impressive knowledge of Chinese life and custom, but the conclusion is a trifle disappointing and one feels that more might materiaf 11 made of this very promising :* nl°i Ur A^?. n l . by A. Conan London Pubhshed by J° hn Murray, This volume contains Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s experiences during his tour of Africa with his family some twelve months ago. His main purpose was psychic research and exposition, and portions of his book are devoted to these-matters; but always a keen observer, he has given his opinions on economical and political questions of •n sar5 ar i S visited h y hi m. The reader will find that crime and criminals still have an especial attraction for him, as he mentions some especially interesting cases which were brought under his notice. “The Fighting Six,” by Margaret beyeson Gower. Published by Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Here is the very unusual story of six modern children who are taken away back into the scenes of the Civil War. ft is a long jump from the twentieth to the seventeenth century, and only magic makes the matter possible, but the young folks will find the storv everything that a good tale should be, with excitement and adventure of the good old style in generous quantity. “The Brackenridge Enigma,” by Laurence Geoghegan. Published by Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Methuen s competition for detective n0 j brought out many able writers, w/'i ~o m . tlle stories submitted th® Clue series* which has proved so popular, has resulted. This tale tells of the doings of Maurice Vale, Secret Service man, who, at the instigation of a friend, investigates a North Country mystery which at first is thought to be a murder and suicide. Step by step the clues are followed until the suicide theory is discarded, but the reader gets very little inkling as to the perpetrator of the crime, and less still as to the motive behind it. Gradually the facts are sifted and the reader is expecting the arrest of a character in the book, when he, too, is found murdered, and the reader again is left guessing. Events move swiftly after this and an exciting chase succeeds in the capture of the criminal. I he. story is a good one, with an exceptionally well worked out plot, while a plan of the locality greatly assists the reader in following the story. This feature might be employed with advantage in many more tales of this description. * « » “A Little Way Ahead,” by Alan Sullivan. Published by John Murray, London. Alan Sullivan has already delighted his many readers with two very fine stories in “No Secrets Island” and “The Splendid Silence,” and his latest volume quite maintains his previous high standard. The story concerns Felix Marburv, an obscure stockbroker’s clerk, to whom is given the wonderful gift of occasionally seeing a week or so ahead. His visions enabled him to speculate successfully in stocks and shares, and in a very short time he found that wealth and power were his. Not satisfied with his good fortune, he aspired to make himself the master of London and to see that no one but himself profited from his good fortune. How he finally over-reached himself makes a fitting ending to a really pleasing story.

One of the most discussed books in Germany and Austria in recent months has been “Brother Luther," a novel by Herr Walter Von Molo. This has now been translated by Mr Eric Sutton, the translator of “The Case of Sergeant Grischa.” Herr Von Molo is the President of the German Academy of Let-

ters, which, founded* in 1(590, includes I among its present members Thomas Mann, Gerhard Hauptmann, Arthur Schnitzler and Fritz von Unruh. Eight years ago Herr Molo abandoned Roman Catholicism for Protestantism, and it will seem that “Brother Luther” is connected with the reaction following upon this step. It is curious that while England, Ireland and, of course, Boston are busy banning books and talking about banning them, France should be moving in the opposite direction. M. Louis Barthou, the Minister of Justice, has just introduced a Bill, in the name of the President of the Republic, which will grant the right of appeal at any time within a period of twenty years after a book has been condemned. The petition must be presented to the Criminal Court of Appeal by the Society of Men of Letters—a live body which has no real parallel in this coun-try—-either on its own initiative or at the request of the author, any of his collaborators, or the nearest relative of the author if he himself is dead. In justification of the Bill it is pointed out that many books which were once considered obscene are now commonly accepted as masterpieces, and that a book is not necessarily assessed at *ts true value at the time of publication. As the right of appeal is placed in the hands of a literary organisation of high standing the supporters of the Bill are confident that it will not be abused. Cricket. The poets have long had a passionate love of cricket and have immortalised the game in song. No poet, however, has written of the spirit of cricket with greater enthusiasm and effect than Sir Henry Newbolt, the poet of public school sport and the public school spirit: There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night— Ten to make and the match to win— A bumping pitch and a blinding light. An hour to play and the last man in; And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But a plain’s hand on his shoulder “Play up! play up! and play the game!” Lovers of the game will appreciate Norman Gale’s “The Old Professional.” 'Tis more than forty years I’ve tasted Sweet and bitter supplied by luck, Never thinking an hour was wasted. Whether I blobbed or whether I stuck: Long as I had some kind of cricket. ’Twas never the wrong 'un fast or slow; An’ I thank my stars I took to cricket, S-even-and-fifty years ago. The late Harold Begbie wrote: England has played at many a game, And ever her toy was a ball. But the meadow game with the beautiful name Is king and lord of them all.