Book notices

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 30, 16 July 1924, Page 25

Book notices

The Encyclopedia of the British Empire. Part 1. Price 1/3. (To-be completed in 24 fortnightly parts). Thy first part of this well printed and profusely illustrated publication deals with Africa, particularly with British East Africa, Keyna and Uganda, Zanzibar, and the Union of S. Africa. London C.T.S. Publications; Convent of the Faithful Virgin, Norwood: Diamond Jubilee; The Supernatural Life, by Rev. 0. R. Yassall-Phillips, C.SS.R. ; Modern Spiritualism, by A. ‘J. Anderson; Why Believe the Bible? by Rev. Hugh Pope, O.P. Price twopence each. These recent C.T.S. pamphlets are worthy of study, especially Father Pope’s admirable brochure on the Bible, and Father Vassall-PhillipsV admirable little tract on the Spiritual Life. The Way Out : A Play in One Act, by “Juliet.” L. Gille and Co., Sydney and Melbourne. The Wonder of Lourdes . bv John Oxenham. Price 2/3 post free. Gille and Co. The Hound Table: A Quarterly Review of the British Commonwealth. June number. Price, o/-. The interesting and calm survey of Irish affairs by a writer who is evidently well-informed and sympathetic continues in the June number. In an editorial article the history of the events leading up to the present crisis over the Ulster Boundary is clearly set forth. All parts of the Commonwealth receive due notice, and there is a good review of the position of Prohibition in Canada. The Ecclesiastical Bevieir. Twenty shillings yearly. June number. Per Linchan. The June number of this useful Review contains even more than the usual number of good articles. Worthy of note arc the papers on the Apologists of the Infant Church, on the Irish Origin of the Missa de Angelis, and on the Oath in the Declaration of Citizenship. Recent books are reviewed, and all the latest Roman documents given. Studies in Australian Crime, by J. I). Fitzgerald. Two volumes. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Price, 2/8 a volume, post free. The success of Edgar Allan Poe's, Conan Doyle’s and similar works of fiction that deal with criminals proves that the saner and wiser part of humanity take a deep interest in the careers of criminals. To write a book about crime simply to pander to a morbid taste would certainly be criminal in itself, but the author of these volumes contends that such works as his servo a nobler purpose. No doubt there is much to be said on both sides of the question, and each is free to follow his own opinion in the matter. Personally we are not attracted by literature of this kind.