BOOK CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 3

BOOK CORNER

“MURDER PIE” Sixteen well-known Australian authors, including journalists, professors, a writer of children’s stories and housewives collaborated to produce “Murder Pie” (Angus and Robertson, 6s), a thrilling murder mystery. The first chapter, written by Aliss J. L. Rankin, deals with a murder committed in the grounds of the Sydney University. Each of the fourteen succeeding chapters were contributed by the collaborating authors who took up the threads of the mystery to increase its intricacy after reading the previous chapters. Naturally, with all these fertile brains at work, one murder is not sufficient ami before Mrs. Noelle Brennan unravels the mystery in masterly fashion six murders have been perpetrated. Each succeeding author builds up the mystery until it becomes so intense that; even the sharpest minded reader will fail to perceive a solution. Suspicion falls on one after another of the characters in true mystery fiction style and interest is held and strengthened as clue after clue is brought forward to be broken down by events in following chapters. “Murder Pie” is a well-written book and owes much of its interest to the fact that curiosity of the reader is aroused as to what attitude each successive author will take in building up , on the mystery that has already been created. ' HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY BUCKINGHAM, 1592-1628, by M. A. Gibb (Jonathan Cape), is a notable addition to the “Academy” books. George Villiers. Duke of Buckingham, the favourite of both James 1 and Charles 1, was for four years the virtual ruler of Great Britain. The author manages to capture the dramatic quality of his picturesque career, and there is not a dull page in the book. Buckingham was not a great character, but his personality was brilliant and charming, and this study by the exercise of sympathy and understanding docs justice to aspects of his personalily usually overlooked by historians. George Villiers, a young son of an ancient Leicestershire family, attracted the notice of King James 1 through his outstanding handsomeness of face and form. .Soon the King was calling . him his “kinde dog Steenie,” because ' of a fancied likeness to the beautiful St. Stephen. Having been appointed Cupbearer to the King, Villiers, by his ready talk and personal ('harm, fascinated the King, who rapidly advanced him to be 1 successively Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Alaster of the Horse, Knight of the Gaiter. Earl of Buckingham, Privy Councillor, lie had now displaced Somerset as the King’s favour- ( ite. and had formed a lasting friendship with the King’s only surviving son. Charles. His patronage became increasingly powerful and his personality charmed the Court. The affection of the King can bo gauged by his extravagant eulogy, “1 luve the Earl of Buckingham mu-re than anyone else 1 do not wish to have it thought a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same and therefore cannot be blamed. Christ hud His John and 1 have my George.’’ i James dedicated to Buckingham his “Meditations on the Lord’s Prayer, and appointed him I" the lucrative positions of Lord High Admiral, and. Keeper of .Denmark House. In .1620, Buckinhmain married Lady Katherine Alanners, daughter of the Earl oi. Rutland, and his great artistic taste made Burly House one of the most , beautiful dwellings in the country. Buckingham and the King now became embroiled in European politics. ; Frederick, tho Elector Palatine, James’

son-in-law, asked by the Bohemian Protestants to become their King, had been decisively defeated by the Imperial Forces, and Spanish forces had overrun the Palatinate. .Tames conceived the idea of enlisting the aid Ox Catholic Spain for the Protestant elector by the marriage of I’rinco Charles to the Infanta Maria. Such an alliance was hateful to the bulk of the nation, with its rising Puritanism, and Parliament, led by Coke, Pym and Wentworth, strongly opposed the policy, but negotiations for the marriage proceeded, with .the most tortuous diplomacy on both sides. Then ensued an amazing- knighterrant venture of tho most quixotic kind. Prince Charles and Buckingham slipped off incognito to Spain by way of France, with the idea of bringing back the Spanish bride in person. This played into the hands of the Spanish King and his Minister Olivares, who envisaged the conversion of the English Prince to Roman Catholicism, and the return of England io the Papal sway. Amazing intrigue on both sides followed. The Pope granted a dispensation for tho marriage, on the condition that the Spanish King would stand security for all the rash promises of .Tames. Rare and costly gifts were sent by James to the young men that they might dazzle even the brilliant Court of Spain. The Spaniards made every effort to convert Charles, without avail. James made impossible promises that Parliament would ratify, the marriage articles, the Spanish demands became more arrogant, and Buckingham chafed at the delay and intrigue. Finally, the pair of knight-errants returned fruitlessly. ‘When at last the marriage was due to take place by proxy, James and Charles repudiated the whole arrangement, and Buckingham acted the part of a national hero in summoning Parliament and pushing for a war with Spain. The Duke of Buckingham was now at the height of his fame, but he threw away his popularity by his illadvised scheme of a marriage between Prince Charles and the Roman Catholic French Princess Henrietta Maria. The dispute with Spain was now repeated on a lesser scale, owing to the raising of the question of toleration for Roman Catholics. In forcing the signing of the marriage treaty, Buckingham committed England to war on the Continent and an attack on the Spanish by sea, but he made the fatal mistake of sacrificing- the co-operation of the English Parliament for doubtful French promises. As Buckingham was about to leave for France to act as proxy for the Royal marriage, James took ill and died, but Buckingham was secure in the even deeper affection of the new King, Charles I. England acclaimed the new Queen with enthusiasm, but Parliament would note vote supplies for the war, especially as the French were trying to use British ships against tho Huguenots. When the discontent against Buckingham became open, and Charles dissolved his first Parliament to silence his rebellious subjects, Buckingham evolved anothed madcap scheme—to seize Cadiz and intercept the Spanish treasure fleet. ’The ill-equipped expedition failed ignominiously. The second Parliament of Charles, in 1G26, became famous for its impeachment of Buckingham, thus raising the momentous constitutional issue of Alinistcrial responsibility. The King fought desperately against Commons and Lords to save Buckingham, regarding the attack as on his Royal authority, but slowly lhe idea of the infallibility of the Monarch was fading from the minds of Englishmen. Again Parliament was dissolved. England now broke with France and Buckingham, as Admiral, sailed with a fleet of 100 vessels to La Rochelle. In the assault on the Isle of Rhe, Buckingham displayed great bravery, and unsuspected powers of leadership. But through lack of support the expedition failed. All the King’s friendship could not avail in. the face of an empty treasury and a rebellious nation. Buckingham returned to find popular resentment against him at fever pitch. Charles had to summon Parliament to raise funds, but Parliament was obdurate that grievances must first be redressed, and Charles was eventually force to receive the famous Petition of Right. The Duxe’s removal was demanded, but Charles, loyal to the last, would not throw his “ISteenie” overboard. His love for his friend increased in direct proportion to his hatred of the mob who clamoured for Buckingham’s blood. When Parliament presented its Remonstrance, Charles prorogued it, and he and Buckingham proceeded with further plans to relieve the Huguenots at Lo Rochelle. It was when Buckingham went to review the preparations of the fleet at Portsmouth that; he fell a victim to the dagger of .the assassin, John Felton, three days after his 36 birthday. His death alienated. King Charles and his people beyond any hope of reconciliation. Buckingham proved a good husband and father, and his wife’s (Jeep affection and unswerving trust prove that there must have been very likeable qualities in the young courtier whom success in so many ways spoiled. The story throws a brilliant light on an amazingly interesting period and a picturesque personality.