The Library Comer

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19072, 26 July 1924, Page 3

The Library Comer

By

“Bibliophile”

“Some books are to bo tasted, othexa to bo swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. * Bacon.

i’ke Brvuic-s. In a recently published book, “Patrick Branwcll Bronte,” Miss Alice Law endeavours to prove that Branwell Bronte was thc author of the greater part of “Withering Heights,” that great novel that has always been regarded as the work of his sister family. Miss Law’s suppositions arc not of much value, and cannot be considered to have in any way challenged the place of Emily as the creator. Surely, in all the range of literature, there can be found nothing stranger than the Bronte family, and the wonderful stream of genius that came from st? ur.propitious an environment. The. three sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne were all writers, and in respect of thc first two, there is displayed a knowledge of human nature, and an analysis of mind that is marvellous. Although as children, they had devoted themselves to writing, Charlotte was nearly twen-ty-six when she may be said to have began to live and to write out of her heart. In .1842 Charlotte and Emily had thoughts of starting a school and went to Brussels in order to improve their knowledge of foreign languages. It "was then that the heart of Charlotte was awakened, and though the man never felt for Charlotte more than friendship, in her case thc result was deep and abiding. It was after the return from a second visit to Brussels that Miss Bront’s thoughts turned to literature, and the three sisters put together a little volume of verse, published at their expense in .1846, under thc pseudonyms of Carrer, Ellis, and Acton Bull. The first-written novel of Charlotte was “The Professor,” which dealt with the Brussels experiences, but as it did not attain the regulation three volume size it was refused by various publishers, and did not appear until after its author’s death. It is an exquisitely fresh and tender love-story, and the heroine is perhaps thc most charming in Charlotte Bronte’s gallery. To one firm of publishers Miss Bronte wrote that she had a second narrative in three volumes now in progress, and at their request submitted the manuscript when completed. It was accepted, published, and soon attained a great success. This was “Jane Eyre,” which is the masterpiece of Charlotte Bronte. It is an unusually outspoken book, and had to suffer many fierce protests against its unconventionality. One review said that “If ‘Jane Eyre’ be thc production of a woman, she must be a woman unsexed.” In this book, as in all her novels, Charlotte Bronte describes love from the woman’s point of view. She lifts the veil from the love agonies of her heroines, and expresses the suffering which women arc doomed to bear in silence. She combines passion with power of expression, and the glow and energy of the story hold the reader captive By the critics her latest novel “Villettc” has always been more esteemed than “Jane Eyre,” wrich has made! most appeal to the public. “Villettc” is certainly the most perfect of all artistically, and may be called an autobiography in the fullest sense of the word. Those three books, and “Shirley,” which is the brightest of her stories, assure Charlotte Bronte of her own place in literature. Emily Bronte is remembered by some of her poems and her one imperishable novel, “Withering Heights.” It was published in 1847, and the author died thc following year, never living to witness its recognition. In some respects thc book is at once a psychological and medical study, and the subject it deals with is destitute of moral beauty and human worth. It however, bears everywhere the stamp of high genius, and by some good critics has been ranked higher than the best of Charlotte’s writings. It is impossible to believe that a degenerate like Branwell Bronte could produce such a piece of work. After his death, Charlotte Bronte wrote: “My unhappy brother never knew what his sisters had done in literature—he was not aware that they had ever published anything.” Attcmps have been made to find the origin of “Withering Heights” in Irish stories, and Mrs Humphrey Ward tried to connect the book with the German romantic movement, but there was failure in each case. Emily Bronte remains the sphinx of literature.

The third sister, Anne, is remembered only because of her sisters, and though her books, “Agnes Grey,” “Thc Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” arc still reprinted, they have value only as throwing light on thc Bronte experience. The works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte survive because of the merits in the books, but the reader who has a knowledge of the lives of the authors can peruse them with an even closer interest of all biographers of the Bronte family that on Charlotte Bronte by Mrs Gaskell stands by itself. It is based on personal knowledge and full and accurate investigation, and written with conspicuous skill and charm. Gloomy it certainly is at parts, as gloom overshadowed the lives of that unhappy and devoted family. Plays and Playwrights. Mr Cosmo Hamilton has written a book that will appeal not only to those fond of theatrical matters, but to the general public. In his “Unwritten History” (Hutchinson), he not only relates a host of interesting things connected with himself, but gives many entertaining anecdotes about celebrities. Here is one good story about Sir J. M. Barrie, which may be called the Pipe of Peter Pan: “It was very amusing, and at the same time very instructive, as proving the deep affection of all who came under his quiet inarticulate personality, to see what happened at rehearsal one day when he lost his favourite pipe. Unable to take any further interest in thc proceedings, he was joined in his feverish search by the director, and then by every member of the company, and the theatre staff.

“The tragic cry went up: ‘Barrie ’s lost his pipe ’ —and such a thing as mere work upon the play was utterly ignored and forgotten, until, at last, the old, well-seasoned, and probably gurgling briar was discovered, returned, reloaded, and back in the smiling mouth of the Master of Thrums, the man who believes in fairies. ’ ’ Mr Hamilton gives an interesting description of the methods of the three leading dramatists —Shaw, Barrie, and Pinero. Of Shaw, he says: “When that hardened veteran attends the rehearsal of a new masterpiece—all his plays are masterpieces —he goes among his carefully chosen company in the highest spirits, fully prepared to enjoy himself as much as they arc bound to enjoy the arduous work to which they have been promoted above all living artists. “He is so contagiously amusing, so fatherly and benign, so full of quips and anecdotes, so deeply imbued with the certainty of having written something that must make another epoch-making sensation, that he gives out confidence and starts the proceedings with a sense of enthusiasm that lives through all the rehearsals. His effect upon his actors, even when they find upon their breakfast tables his type-writ-ten screed of daily criticism, is that of an elderly god who is guiding their destinies. ” Of his own life as journalist, author, playwright and lecturer, Mr Cosmo Hamilton tells numerous amusing and interesting stories. As a youth he got the inclination of earning a living by his pen, and could not be dissuaded by his friends. He wrote a book and submitted it to a publishing house, by whom it was accepted and became quite a success. The verdict came in time to relieve his necessities ,as he had gone to France, where he could live most cheaply, with a capital of twenty-five pounds, and composed the book within a month. He says of it:

“The story was laid in India, of which I knew nothing; about the Indian army, of which I knew even less; and so I had called it ‘Which is Absurd/ to take the sting away. It dealt, naturally enough, with the great riddles of life —men, women, and love. At midnight it seemed to me to be a masterpiece. At nine o’clock in the morning it bore the earmarks of egregious nonsense. But the midnight feeling conquered that of nine o’clock, and instead of making a bonfire of the pages I posted them to the publisher.” There is an interesting account of how the author made his first success as a playwright. Captain Robert Marshall I had been commissioned by Charles Frohman to write a comedy with music for Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terris, but after two months Marshall failed to find a suitable idea, so they sent for Hamilton, and asked if he would collaborate with Marshall. Hamilton refused and Frohman then asked if he would undertake the job himself, and gave a cheque on account of the play, which was to be delivered in a month. As Hamilton says: “x had no more notion of what to write or how to write it than a fantail pigeon wobbling on a croquet ball.” At the end of two weeks, he almost despaired and then inspiration came, and at fever heat he dashed off what became the very successful “The Catch of the Season.” Recent Fiction. “The Beloved Pawn,” by Harold Titus (Hodder and Stoughton), per J. T. Ward and Son. Price, 6/-. A very arresting story, the scene of which is on the Great Lakes, dealing specially with the Beaver Islands in Lake Michigan. For many years Norman Eldred—locally known as “King” Norman—had wielded a brutal sway on Garden Island, feared and hated, and reciprocating that hatred to all save one—his daughter Eve. With a species of insane jealousy he drove away, or ruined, anyone to whom Eve appeared to be drawn. It is by accident that David McKinnon has to take refuge in the harbour at Garden Island; though David has a long account against King Norman for the death of his father. The “King” experiences his first moment of fear when David arrives, and his dastardly scheme to ruin David, seem to only put stronger weapons in his hands. Eve has known scarcely any friend but David’s father and her delight at meeting the son is dashed by his scornful treatment. Like all others, David believes that Eve is heart and part with Jicr father in his evil deeds, and there arc many misunderstandings before he sees Eve in a clear perspective. There are many exciting incidents, and readers will be greatly entertained by the love story of Eve and Dave after he carried her off to the lonely High Island. The story contains well-drawn characters, and the racy narrative is brought to an astonishing and dramatic conclusion.

“The Mountain,” by Norman Springer (.Fisher Unwin) per J. T. Ward and Son. A rattling romance of adventure and hidden treasure. Martin Blake is a -lawyer’s clerk, who loathes his occui pation, and in dreams walks the paths of romance, but sees no chance of any change in his life. Martin is sent by his employer with important papers for Captain Carew, in one of the lower quarters of San Francisco, and meets with adventure in abundance. The result is that instead of going back to an office, he finds himself on board a ship which is off on a special mission. Martin becomes a member of the Happy Family of the brig Cohasset, and enjoys life in company with the weeping Bos’un, Little Billie, Capt. Dabney, and above all the Little Mate. Ho is told the object of the ship’s voyage, and they arc on the verge of accomplishing, when the adversaries of the opening chapters make their appearance, and one thrilling incident succeeds another. For a time the Happy Family are in dire peril, and the reader will follow with excitement the gripping scenes and adventures at the horrible “Fire Mountain.” For those who care for a dashing sea romance of

piracy, shipwreck, and hidden treasure, this is a book which can be read and enjoyed. “Andrew’s Folly,” by Harold Bindloss (Ward, Lock arid Co.), per Robertjson and Mullins, Melbourne, I Mr Bindloss has written many en|joyable yarns, and “Andrew’s Folly” •is one of his best. The story opens on the shores of Solway, where Andrew Grier prefers to indulge his love for ; open-air life rather than stick to the jlaw in-a city office. Andrew has an | aunt, who considers her son should .have the Grier property rather than jAndrew, and she does her best to not ' only make him lose the estate, but the girl he is in love with. Events happen that make it necessary for Andrew to get out of the way, and he thinks of an old property of the family in the Canadian backwoods. How he secures a ship, loads her with coal for Ireland, defeats machinations that threaten ruin, and makes a profitable sale are incidents that carry the reader on with 'interest and one finally lands with Andrew at the Canadian wood mill. We arc here introduced to the life of the backwoods, and there arc many exciting incidents. The coming back of the Griers is to some a danger which must be dealt with, and Andrew has to meet and fight against powerful enemies. How he succeeded, and the consequent events when he returned home are left to the reader of an exceptionally wellwritten talc. “At the World’s Mercy,” by Paul Trent (Ward, Lock and Co.) Mr Trent has a ready pen and uses it to the best possible advantage in the theme which he has selected. We have a beautiful orphan girl, ignorant of the fact that she is heir to a valuable property, her humble class lover and the unscrupulous cousin who is holding the estate. This cousin, rebuffed in his offer of marriage, first gets the humble lover convicted for a crime of which he is innocent, and then as the heroine will not marry him willingly, she is abducted and kept in terror by some villainous subordinates. We have also Lady Enid, with whom the cousin is in love, and who at first reciprocates but finally refuses to have anything to do with him because he will not reveal his reason for being unable to marry her. Lady Enitf then turns to Horner, the rich American, and it is by their efforts that the secret is at last revealed, and innocent love comes to its trumph. Occasional Nates.

Brett Young is now hard a work on a long Midland book, which he hopes will take its place alongside the others: “Iron Age,” “Young Physician,” “Black Diamond,” and “Dark Tower.”

Mr Maxwell Laurie, author of “The Shameless Innocent,” is an Indian civil servant, who has been in the service since 1889.

That the Bible was a guide and inspiration to the British troops in Palestine is one of the points made by Major Vivian Gilbert in his book, “The Romance of the Last Crusade.” It is a personal narrative of Allenby’s campaign, and the exciting days when the general and his men used the very same tactics as did Saul against the Philistines.

The scope of “Contemporary Personalities,” the series of essays which the Earl of Birkenhead has been writing, is to be extended, and will not appear in book form for several months. A new novel by Patrick Mac Gill is expected to be published shortly. It will be entitled “The Carpenter of Orra,” and tolls the story of a Cornishman who was believed by the village people to be Christ returned to earth. Mr E. Phillips Oppenheim has been working in the South of France on his latest book, which will be called “The Groat Peace,” but publication will not take place for some time. Mr Sinclair Lewis, the American novelist, has returned to the States after a year’s stay in Europe. He has with him the completed manuscript of a new novel which he wrote in an office in the Temple. Messrs Duckworth are offering a prize of £lOO to the author of the best original MS. of a book of travel-ad-venture submitted to a competition they are now running. Only 900 copies are to be printed of Miss May Sinclair’s new novel in blank verse, “The Dark Night.” Of these, the first 150 copies will be signed by the author. Mr H. M. Tomlinson is busy writing the book of his recent travels in the Malay Archipelago. It will be called The Way of the Wind,” and is to be published by Cassell’s. WANGANUI PUBLIC LIBRARY. This week’s accessions to Circulating Department:— Arlen, Michael, Brand, M., “Dan Barry’s Daughter”; Collins. D., “Ordeal”; Hales, A. G., “Maid o’ the Morn”; Henry, 0., “Postscripts”; Hodder, Reg., “Daughter of the Dawn”; Holdsworth, E., “General. Belinda”; Jacques, N., “Doctor Mabuse ’’; MacKenzie, C., *‘Heavenly Ladder”; Pedler, M., “Waves of Destiny”; Shaw, 8., “Woman Tamer”; Swan, A. S. “Mary Grath”; Young, F. 8., “Woodsmoke”; Young, F. E. M., “Art of Michael Haslet”; Adiai Crowther “The Black Bishop'”; “Father Damien,” by M. Quinlan; Franck H. A., “Wanderings in China”; Gower, Lord G. L., “Private Correspondence”; Talbot, N. S., “Returning Tide of Faith.”