The Bookman's Corner

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 5, Issue 5, 1 November 1926, Page 70

The Bookman's Corner

Wl Qreat Book of Travel A n outstanding book on travel is EE that entitled “Head Hunters of the Amazon,” by Mr. F. W. Up de Graff. The book is a record of adventure and exploration in South America between the years 1894-1900. Mr. de Graff, an electrical engineer by profession, went to South America to the Republic of Ecuador to engage in his profession, but his affairs not prospering, he decided to leave the country and make his way home via the Amazon. He crossed the Andes, dropping down to the head waters of the Napo River. Here he made the acquaintance of another American, who accompanied him on his trip. Shortly after starting, the adventurers were deserted by their native canoe-men, and afterwards were also robbed by an unscrupulous trader. At the first trading post they re-outfitted and set off on an exploring expedition, only to lose their outfit again when many hundreds of miles from civilisation. The two men wandered, lost in the forest, and were nearly starving when they stumbled across a native village. After numerous adventures, they reached Iquitos, at that time the centre of the rubber trade and the principal river port. The main interest of the book, however, is centred in the expedition organised by de Graff which penetrated into the Pongo de Mansriche, the centre of the Head Hunting country. They established friendly relations with the natives, and Mr. de Graff gives a very interesting account of the life and customs of these primitive and little-known people. The members of the expedition even accompanied the natives on a raid, and were probably the first white men to witness the gruesome, yet very interesting, process used by the natives in preparing and preserving the heads of their enemies. The book is full of thrills and excitement from beginning to end, and is certainly a most notable contribution to literature on travel. This book, with J. H. Curie's “Shadow Show” and Ossendowsky’s “Men, Beasts and Gods” form a trilogy that represents the best travel books of the past generation.—Cornstalk Co., through Whitcombc and Tombs Ltd. From Collins come three really good novels: “That Kind of a Man,” by J. J. Beresford, is the story of a middle-aged novelist who, breaking away from his wife and family, finds a new interest in life when he makes the acquaintance of a Mrs. Thurlow. Mr. Beresford here gives us a searching and clever analysis of a sensitive , fair-minded and rather unusual type of individual, of how he meets and solves a vital problem in his life. It is very well done. W. C. Tuttle is responsible for a remarkably fine Western novel, “The Flood of Fate.” He gives a story of ranches, cowboys, sheriffs, posses and bandits, all complete. Mr. Tuttle’s characters, however, are really more human and understandable than the usual type of

character delineated in most books of this style. This author is well worth reading and worth while watching. “The Professor on Paws,” by A. B. Cox, is a humorous and clever novel concerning the experiments of two professors, Ridgley and Cantrell, and their success in grafting the brain process of one animal on to that of another. For instance, they develop a rabbit that responds to a whistle and wags its tail. Ridgley dies, and his colleague carries out a previous compact made with Ridgley and grafts a portion of the late professor’s brain on to that of a cat. The experiment is a distinct success and, with the professor now inhabiting the body of a cat, many extraordinary situations are created. A clever and witty book. “Desert,” by Martin Armstrong, is a powerful and unusual novel, depicting a man’s struggle between the desires'of his flesh and the freedom of his spirit. Malchus, a wealthy young Alexandrian sunk in vice, is seized with a loathing of his mode of life, and, under the guidance of a monk, seeks regeneration amidst the peace of desert solitudes. His struggles and adventures, bodily and spiritual, arc very vividly drawn. This clever study is based on a tale in Palladious’ “Paradise of the Holy Fathers." A feature of the book is the unusual wood cuts by E. Ravelious.—Jonathan Cape, through Whitcombc and Tombs Ltd. ' I 'he same publishers also forward E a copy of “The Comedians.” This is an English translation of a novel by a well-known Dutch author, Louis Couperus. The story takes us back to ancient Rome to the Imperial City’s greatest period, and deals with the doings of a troupe of actors who came to enact the Greek tragedies during the festival period. The book is an extremely good account of Rome and its people, looked at from a most unusual angle. The dialogue is witty and sparkling, and the plot moves briskly. A romantic and adventurous story is “Youth Rides West,” by Will Irwin. It is a Western novel of the goldrush days of the seventies. Into the Rockies ventures a young man in search of adventure and fortune. He finds adventure aplenty in a rapidly expanding district then populated by some honest men and plenty of claim-jumpers, highwaymen and card sharpers He also finds romance and reward and the love of a mysterious woman. Jonathan Cape, through Whitcombc and Tombs Ltd. Jeffery Farnol’s new book, “The High Adventure,” is a romance

of the latter part of the Eighteenth Century. The plot is rather reminiscent of “The Broad Highway,” though, perhaps, not quite so well constructed or so unerringly handled as was the novel that made the author's name. The hero is Jeremy Veryan, a lovable giant of 24, and heir to vast estates. He is an orphan, whose patrimony is administered by his uncle, Sir James Trevor, until Jeremy’s coming of age at 25. There is a mystery surrounding the deaths of both Jeremy’s father and mother. 1 o escape an uncongenial home atmosphere, Jeremy decides to leave and find adventure on the broad highway, and adventure meets him early. Lie rescues a lady in distress, and meets the sinister Chevalier de Ravenac. Of his attempted murder, and how he falls in love and how he goes to London with Shrigg, a Bow Street runner, becomes a great gentleman, and helps to solve the mystery of his parents' death, all makes fascinating reading. Of course, no Farnol romance is complete without its boxing scene, and there is a particularly good one in “The High Adventure.” Besides the principals, there are a number of lesser characters, all admirably drawn. Sampson Low, through Whitcombc and Tombs Ltd. Tn an American exchange, in a note 1 concerning the popularity of Rafael Sabatini, it is said that he has put more than six hundred thousand dollars into the pockets of American booksellers during the last five years. Nothing, however, is said about his English sales, though these must be considerable. Since the filming of the “Sea Hawk” and “Scaramouche" he has rapidly risen as a best seller. We doubt if many authors at the present time enjoy such a wide sale as does Sabatini. El is new book, entitled “Bellarion,” is a story of fifteenth century Italy. he story is of how Bellarion. called The Fortunate, from the shelter of a monastery, became a great soldier of fortune whose fame rang through Italy. Bellarion, described in a fit of petulance by Valeria, his lady, as -beast, half-god, moves imperiously through this tumultous period carving with his sword a great name and fortune, and retaining both by his wit and personality. He is fortunate in war, fortunate in peace, fortunate in love. It is a romantic and exciting story. Mr. Sabatini is thoroughly at home in mediaeval Italy; the country and the period has been the subject of special study and research on his part. ■ — Hutchinson, through Whitcombc and Tombs Ltd.

Tn “The Silver Spoon,’’ John Galsworthy continues the story of Fleur and Michael Mont, of Soames and other members of the Forsyte family who appeared in “The White Monkey” and previous Forsyte hooks. “The Silver Spoon” is the second book of a new trilogy, and brings the narrative of the fortunes of the Forsyte family down to modern times. Many of our readers will be delighted to again follow the doings of the Forsytes under the masterly guidance of Mr. Galsworthy.— Heinemann, through Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd.