REVIEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 7, 16 August 1911, Page 50

REVIEWS.

Tiell and Wing : By Frederick Fanning Ayer. (Now York and lx>n<lon: tieorgr PuLnuiii’s Soiih. The Knickerbocker Press. 10/6 net.) In the absence of documentary or other information, we can only surmise that Mr. Ayer D an American poet, of a calibre ami a style out of the ordinary. Air. Ayer strikes the note of modernity, though for a modern he has wonderful faith in love. Love is the burden of his ithemes. from cover to cover, in “Bell ami Wing,” which consists of over two (hundred poems. which take up 1261 pages. Not all of Mr. Ayer’s poetic effusions are meritorious, but there are some of exceeding merit. We like very much the spirit and sentiment of “The Village Fool.” as both highly intuitive ami explanatory of that unfortunate’s seemingly bemmhlled state: “Maybe ho wore two souls in him, One a bright soul, the other dim; I'acli a separate soul —who knows?” All.l ’ lie saw more than other men saw. Knew more than other men knew.” “Nearer to Beauty was he too, Than you are only human you.” “The Man Militant” is a fine poem, and rings strong and true. It is 'the story of a strong man who finds himself caught in the nies* of love: “Life's for the strong, Mighty or small; Make of it much. Death has a clutch, Lips have a tingle-touch Keenest of all!” Ma teria li-tfc sounding this, until one reads through the poem, where “The Alan Militant” savs to the owner of the “lips”: “>pirit which you may not see, Aly true ripe reality. Tor you to follow Through pitfall path, sleepy hollow, To gather force and Beauty By deep endurance, drastic duty — There's your only worth-while booty.” Air. Ayer'- ethics of life and duty are beyond eritici-m. Like the designer of a beautiful medallion, his poems have an obverse and an inverse side. His inetre i- new to us. and will, we fear, •omewhat militate against the reader’s enjoyment ami of his sensing the poet’s full meaning. But in the variety of "theme- presented there will be found Fomething that will appeal to every true Loor of poeiry. The greatest fault of •the work lie- in its formal, which is bulky to a fault. I'o the book lover who Jove- wide margins this fault may not lie apparent. In a -mailer volume wide 011 ’I- arc delightful- In a volume

emit .lining over a thousand pages it is a grave mistake. We are indebted to George Putnam’s Sons for our copy of these poems. which we cordially recommend as uplifting and inspiriting throughout, and justifying their unusual and felicitous title of "Bell and Wing.” “The Belmont Book”: By Vados. With an introduction by Arnold Bennett. (London: George Bell and Sons, Auckland: Wildman and Arey, 3/6.) “The Belmont Book" is, indeed, of rare merit, and engrossing interest. In the introduction, contributed by Mr. Arnold Bennett, which does but enhance the value of this superlative chronicle, the introducer declares that the book demands an introduction, partly on account of its pseudonymity, but more because the reader may imagine that he has stumbled across - a nature book. Well, this is a nature book, but it has human tacked on to nature, which, as most readers will admit, makes a great deal of difference. Vados, Mr. Bennett tells us, is a novelist, who lives ‘right in the heart of Paris, and is in close touch with the world at all points.’ Therefore. Mr. Bennett thinks it may be considered odd that the author should write a book about human nature in the country, when, seemingly, richer and more varied material lay so close to hand. But Vados knew, and Mr. Bennett knows, and we know, and all our readers know, that human nature is the same all the world over. Its value, city, cosmopolitan, or provincial, as a factor in the making of books, depends entirely upon the skill of the craftsman. “The Belmont Book" in design reminds us of Mrs. Mann's Village < hroniele. whose title we cannot just now remember. But in this case the comparison, except so far as the design goes, would be odious. But the difference in the two books is just this. Mrs. Mann availed herself to the full of her privileges as novelist. Vados has depicted Belmont and its people from the point of view of a deeply interested, gracious, and sympathetic spectator. Belmont is in Normandy, where Vados and her husband, the “Patron” of the book, used to migrate every Easter of their residence in Paris. And the characters of the story are just the village people of Belmont, to whom the patron ami the author were benefieient overlords, as it wore. Each chapter is devoted tn a depiction, or a description of some person or thing with which the welfare of Belmont is bound up. We do not purpose to divulge more of the ‘■Belmont Book." But we do most carnestlv counsel readers of all sorts and conditions, to buy the book and read it, for themselves, and if the perusal does but vield half the iilei-urr- if has viel-bd

us, it will prove an uncommonly profitable investment. Our copy has been received through the courtesy of Wildman and Arey. Table d'Hote : By W. Pett Ridge. (London: Hodder and Stoughton. Auckland: Wildman and Arey, 2/6.) This is a capital book of short stories, written in Pett Ridge’s very .best style. The stories are seventeen in number, and each embodies some humorous satire or wise reflection, on some human foible, virtue, or institution or thing. What Mr. Pett Ridge does not know about the joys and sorrows, capabilities. and limitations, needs and necessities, hopes, and aspirations, strength and weakness of the lower middle classes, is assuredly not worth the knowing. Mr. I’ett Ridge is an author for whom, even in his lighter mood, we have a prodigious respect. For under his light est humour lies a substratum of real concern for the welfare of the class of whom he is the whole-souled mouthpiece. The Other Richard Graham: By Mrs Frank Clapperton. (London: Elliott Stock. Auckland: Gordon and Gotch. 3/6.) Complaints have been made by many critics of late, of the barrenness of plot in the modern novel. Mrs. Frank Clapperton’s readers cannot in all conscience complain of this, for the plot of “The Cither Richard Graham is not only an involved one, but is worked to a conclusion in a masterly, if a highly melodramatic fashion. Two of the characters, hero and villain, rejoice in the name of Richard Graham. One. Richard Graham, has, in dispute, killed a man, and, with characteristic villainy, tries to fasten the blame on the hero. There is a heroine, indeed, there are two, who help to involve things. And the villainess makes things uncomfortable all round, poisoning the chief heroine in a highly original fashion. The book’s scenes are laid, respectively, in England and the New Zealand province of Otago. We are not lovers of. melodrama, but we do congratulate Mrs. Frank Clapperton, not only or. the naturalness of her style, but on her depiction of New Zealand country life. Only a New Zealander can appreciate at its full value the very natural sketch of New Zealand bush life she has drawn" in this story of “The Cither Richard Graham.” Mrs. Frank Clapperton is, we think, a new writer of fiction. We came to this conclusion because there are crudities in the book which would seem to betray the tyro. But these will disappear with experience. Our copy has been received from Elliott Stock, through the courtesy of Gordon and Gotch. Albert-street. Auckland.