FROM Bookstall and Study.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 7

FROM Bookstall and Study.

Miss Isabella Noble Adam, from whom Sir James Barrie received his first lessons, has died at the age of ninety. According to Mr Hugh Walpole, Miss V. Sackville-West’s fortnightly talk about novels on the wireless is the best advertisement that books have ever received in England. A library of several thousand volumes, comprising books, plays and other literature dealing with suicide, has been acquired by the municipality of Augsburg, in Germany. The library has been collected by Dr Hans Rost, a well-known sociologist. “ When I -was Very Young,” is the title of a fragment of Mr A. A. Milne’s autobiography dealing with the years when he was of the age of Christopher Robin. As this will be published in London and New York at three guineas, it will be for the present a “ collector’s book.” Among the pioneers of large payments for articles by celebrities was Mr Edward Bok, editor and proprietor of American magazines, who died recently. The wife of Gladstone received from Mr Bok a cheque for £3OOO for a series of articles, and she thought this so remarkable that she had the cheque framed. ¥H*HIiIIIi*IEBEEEBEEEEEBEEEBEBEEEESESBSES

" ROMANCE OF THE PLANETS.” “ This is a hard world to live in, With its many jolts and jars ; There are many planets, maybe ’Way up among the stars; But there’s no road built to reach them, We must keep thus mundane groove, Trying still to make it smoother, For we can’t pack up and move. “ Don’t let it be a storehouse Of trouble and of care, But give it your attention And help keep it in repair; This earth has many features Which the thoughtful disapprove But we may as well be cheerful For we can’t pack up and move.” Anon.

SB EE EE ® EE IH EE HI EE ® HI m US HI HI IS 111 a a E A writer of detective novels who is new to readers of English is Sven Elvestad, author of “ The Case of Robert Robertson.” Yet this Norwegian author has written" nearly fifty crime books, most of which have been published in German and other Continental languages. He has earned the nickname, “ the Edgar Wallace of Scandinavia,” but in appearance he closely resembles Mr Phillips Oppenheim. This fact might arouse interesting speculations on the personal similarity of similar sorts of writers. “ The Case of Robert Robertson ” is the first book of this author published in English. The Australian Literature Society’s gold medal for the best novel by an Australian writer published last year has been awarded to Henry Handel Richardson (Mrs Robertson) in recognition of her novel, “Ultima Thule,” the third volume of a trilogy. In making the award, the society’s adjudicator pointed out that, in addition to “Ultima Thule,” two novels of conspicuous merit by Australian writers were published last year. These were “ Coonardoo,” by Katherine Prichard, and “ A House is Built,” by M. Bernard Eldershaw. These last two books were prize-winners in the competition promoted ty the Sydney “ Bulletin.” It is exasperating to me that no English novel about the war can compare with the best of the French and German ones—with “ Le Feu ” and “ Sergeant Grischa ” (the finest of all war novels) and Remarque’s conquering volume, writes Mr Hugh Walpole in the “ New York Herald-Tribune.” The much praised “ Spanish Farm ” trilogy of Mottram’s is surely far behind them. Our latest specimen here is Richard Aldington’s “ Death of a Hero.” The last third of it deals with the war, and is honest and convincing. This, however, is rendered worse than negative because of the appalling crudity and immaturity of the first two-thirds. In this portion of the book there are unbelievably naive pieces of writing and an exhibition of childish bad temper that has to be seen to be believed. “Te be successful as a novelist in these days,” says Mr J. D. Beresford, who takes for his theme “Experiment in the Novel,” “it is essential to keep your audience in view while you are writing. But no great literature comes into the world by that road. When, as in the days of Dickens, the author was a member of his own public, he could give the best, or very nearly the best, that was in him without obscuring his genius. When he has deliber-

ately to check his natural impulse to expression by the consideration of his public’s disapproval, the result mayevidence great craft, but it can never be great art.” Why cannot we have a clean, true war novel, free from exaggerations and sensationalism? The subject has such enormous possibilities that it should surely produce a classic for future generations. The facts and “atmosphere” would not require the diligent assembling that it takes to produce a “Jungle Book” or a Conrad masterpiece. There are numberless eyewitnesses to tell their tales and living documents and chronicles like Sir Henry Wilson's diary and Mr Winston Churchill’s history to draw upon. These two books, if given as part of the History curriculum in schools, would do much to open the eyes of the young to the futility and pettiness of war, but to reach the millions who read war books, and those other millions who have not yet given a thought to the subject, we must have an outstanding, fearless, human novel which will draw up the curtain and show us war as Galsworthy shows us life. Such a book would be the finest War Memorial to those who gave their lives “to end war” and an everlasting gift to humanity.—-Lady Ingram in “John o’ London’s Weekly.” In a catalogue issued by Messrs Elkin Mathews are 776 books and pamphlets by or about Byron. Among the rare “lots” is a set of first editions of the first three, cantos of “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.” and the first issue of Canto the Fourth, 1812-18, in the original boards and uncut; the set is offered at £950. Mr Kern’s copy sold for £IO2O in New York. It was bound in blue morocco, with presentation inscriptions from the author to “W. J. Bankes, Eq., from his. friend the author, March 4, 1812,” and with a further inscription by Bankes, “Very soon after I had it I lent this book to Miss Milbanke, who was then unacquainted with Lord Byron.” There are numerous books relating to “Childe Harold,” one, “The Baron of Falconberg; or, Childe Harold in Prose,” 1815, is a very scarce book from the Minerva Press of A. K. Newman, and another is “Prodigious! or Childe Paddie in London,” 1818, a very scarce novel, “printed for the author,” whose identity apparently-, as is the case of so many other imitations, has eluded the experts. Mr Edgar Wallace, writer of mysteries, has acquired a reputation as a “criminologist.” Writing on “The Fear of the Rope,” in “London Opinion,” he says:—Your abolitionist , . . will point to the United States as a clear example of how the death penalty does not bring about a diminution of crime. He does not tell you that, to all intents and purposes, the death penalty has been abolished in the United States, not by the law, but by r clever lawyers, who find ways and means of rescuing their clients from the chair, the rope, and the lethal chamber. It is because there are not enough executions of murderers in the State of Illinois and in the State of New York these crimes are so common. How do the criminal classes themselves regard capital punishment? I have seen hundreds of convicts, and I have never failed to ask the question, “Are you in favour of hanging for murder?” and I never once have had a reply in the negativ.. For the English convict has a curious respect for the laws, and a peculiar sense of citizenship. He realises that the hangman saves his life as much as he saves innocent citizens. He does not wish to commit murder. That solution to the problems of capture never occurs to him.

g hi ® m @ m m m @ @ es m a m m s @ eb ee @ THE GLIMPSE. High on the hill you stood, Where the dim clouds Smiled down on you, all sunset-flushed with gold, Below you in the valley lay the wood Glowing in scarlet wealth, serene and old. Red Autumn spread her bounty at your feet, The wind blew all its glory through your hair— A last bird sang, finding the moment sweet, Then whispered to the trees that you were there. ... I read the grey-green challenge of your eyes, Your love of earth, and air, and this great space, And saw you fling your rapture to the skies— Lovely in all your tall, untutored grace. Laughing, you took the downward path again, I should known that Glory did not last, The greyness of the evening broke to rain— And so your beauty passed. Marguerite Evans, in “ John o’ London’s Weekly.” smsimmm®®mmm ® m ® m u m m eb ®

“ During the war we came to know the Englishman with his remarkable character and qualities; we feared to find this character altered in the new generation, but after studying them carefully, we find our fears to be imaginary. A little group of anarchical intellectuals may seem very different sort of men from Kipling’s ideal, but what does a small group of three or four thousand intellectuals matter to England? Kipling himself is not mistaken. I saw him last summer in his lovely simple country house, and he spoke serenely to me of these young Englishmen. He knows that many of them, and some of the most intelligent, do not follow him any more. ‘ But,’ he said with a smile, ‘ it is best they should not. Young men must find themselves. Young blood must run its course and

every dog must" have its day.’ That smile of Kipling's is full of intelligence and humour, but also of an almost religious force. Kipling is indulgent, as men who believe are apt to be, for he has great faith in England and I think he is right. If he judges by appearances and by her outward difficulties, a superficial observer may feel some anxiety as to the future of England. But when one knows her better, one sees that she is' solid, rich in moral and material resources, and that she has already survived more difficult trials. And for us this is fortunate, we who are her friends and who are ever more convinced that it is in maintaining our intimate understanding and affectionate relations with England that lie the salvation of the Western world and the secret of keeping the Peace.”—M. Andre Maurois, in the “ Cornhill Magazine.” “Happy Thoughts,” by F. C. Burnand. Published by Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. “Happy Thoughts,” a volume of stories which originally appeared in “Punch” some sixty or seventy years ago. was first published by Messrs Bradbury, Evans and Co., in 1866. As Mr Robert Lynd points out, Burnand attempted no comprehensive picture of human life, hi 3 sole aim being to amuse his readers. The art of the literary entertainer who writes in this spirit is, as a rule, as short-lived as the art of the comedian on the stage. There are fashions in jokes as in clothes. The clothes of fifty years ago seem comic to us; the jokes of fifty years ago. with a few exceptions, do not. Thus the rate of mortality among funny books is higher than in almost any other branch of literature. Yet, “Happy Thoughts,” although written so many years ago, provides the reader of to-day with almost as much amusement as those who originally read the series in “Punch.” But, apart from the humorous side of Burnand’s writing, there is a great deal of merit in many aspects of his work. The manner in which he obtains his effects, and the i lgenuitv with which he interweaves the threads of absurd events with the threads of the jotter’s equally absurd thoughts, reflections, and emotional responses, is truly remarkable. It is really surprising that a work of this nature has been allowed to become almost forgotten except in a few families, which have treasured the author’s work right through the years. Burnand was known in every household half a century or so ago, and

present-day readers would do well to make acquaintance with his writings, which are undoubtedly most diverting. Messrs Methuen have performed a very real literary service in again placing this volume before the public. “Shepherds in Sackcloth,” by Sheila Kay e-Smith. Published by Cassell and Company, Limited, London. Sheila Kaye-Smith, author of “ Joanna Godden ” and many other well-known stories, can always be depended upon for something really good. In the present volume she paints a great pic-ture-of life in the- Sussex Weald, where events may be few and life move somewhat slowly, but it nevertheless holds quite as much for these country people as does the rush and bustle round of work and play of the city dweller. The characters are wonderfully well drawn, Mr Bennett, the Rector, who has the centre of the stage, being a wonderfully earnest old gentleman, who figures in all the great events and problems of the countryside. The story is one which will appeal to a very wide circle of readers. “As the Story Goes,” by Betty Knell. Published by The New Century Press, Limited, Sydney. Miss Betty Knell, the author of these verses, is a talented young New Zealander whose work has already appeared in New Zealand and Australian papers, and has won very high praise indeed. What one most appreciates in Miss Knell’s work is that she puts modern thought in. modern verse, and there is a noticeable absence, rare indeed in young poets’ first volumes, of an excess of sentiment. The individual numbers are extremely good, and it is evident that this young lady will occupy a high place in the literary world. “A Man’s Life,” by Arthur H. Adams. Published by Nash and Grayson, London. Copy from Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited, Cashel Street. Arthur H. Adams is the author of “Tussock Country” and other stories, and New Zealanders will be glad to make acquaintance with his latest volume. The story concerns an elderly man who is knocked down in a London street and is taken to hospital. As he | is dying many of the events of his life flash up in disconnected scenes appearing in disarranged order. We see him start out in life as a young man whose I

DOMINION AWARD FOR CARPENTERS FILED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 1. A Dominion award (excepting Marlborough) was issued by the Arbitration Court to-day in respect of the carpen- , ters and joiners’ dispute, heard on i March 18 and 19. An increase of 2d an hour is granted to joiners to make their rate the same as for carpenters, but such decision is not to be regarded as constituting a precedent. The matters referred to the Court were hours, wages, holidays, suburban work and country work. In all matters excepting wages the aw r ard varies little from the old award. A memorandum to the award states: “ The principal departure from the expired award is the increase of 3d per hour to joiners, which brings their ra*e up to that fixed for carpenters. Until i the coming into operation of the award of 1924 carpenters and joiners were paid the same rates. In 1924 carpenters were granted an additional 3d per hour, partly on account of broken time through bad weather and partly on account of expenditure on tools. A majority of the Court has decided, *n view of the fact that a joiner has to maintain an expensive kit of tools, to restore the position that existed before the award of 1924 came into operation, and has awarded him the extra 2d per hour. This is not intended as a precedent or a departure from the Court’s current rates as set out in the pronouncement of September. 1925.”

great ambition is to be the greatest poet in New Zealand. We follow his wanderings as newspaper corresponj dent during the Boxer War in China, I and are let into many secrets of his life. The author has provided a most unusual type of story, and one which I the reader will find quite enjoyable.

HOUSE AT AWATOTO DESTROYED BY FIRE. Fer Press Association. NAPIER. April 1. A seven-roomed house at Awatoto, owned by Mr S. Harris and occupied by Mr and Mrs J. Jenkins was destroyed by fire late to-night. Mr Jenkins was sitting reading in the kitchen and his wife was in the same room when they discovered that the front of the house was ablaze. They had only time to seize their child from its bed and make their escape. Mr Jenkins was able to move his car from a shed, which, however, was saved. Nothing was saved from the house. Awatoto is beyond the fire brigade boundary and therer is no water supply. The direction of the wind and the efforts of a bucket brigade prevented the adjoining houses from catching fire. The house was insured for £7OO in the Phoenix office and the furniture for £l5O.