£1000 LITERARY PRIZE IS GIVEN TO MR. CHURCHILL

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 November 1949, Page 5

£1000 LITERARY PRIZE IS GIVEN TO MR. CHURCHILL

LONDON, Nov. 2.—Lord Kemsley, chairman and editor-in-chief of the London "Sunday Times” presented to Mr. Churchill today the "Sunday Times” literary prize of £lOOO for the first two volumes of his story of the Second World War. The award is made annually for the outstanding contribution to English literature. Lord Kemsley said: "We shall not see the equal of his history from any other hand. Here was the man and the hour, and here was the subject and the writer.” Replying, Mr. Churchill said: “Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is joy and amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, and then

it becomes a master. Then it becomes a tyrant, and in the last phase, when you are reconciled to your servitude, you kill the master.” Mr. Churchill said that when a man reached maturity he should master the literature of his country, and if possible that of other countries also. Schools tried to teach four or five languages at once. As a result, one got a smattering of all and profit from none. Mr. Churchill then gave some advice about good reading. He said everyone should read the great books of the English language. To the young h e advised: “Do not begin great works too soon. It is a great pity to lean books of practical value hurriedly or at an immature period in your de velopment. ’

He said the newspapers offered a selection of murdeis and tragedies from all over the world. Many unthinkable minds were focussed on such matters at present, but as nice passed and man emergen from the stresses to which he was now exposed the newspapers would take on a graver tone and present events in their true proportions to the world.