But this is quite unimportant. M. Colette's superb language as transparent and smoothly flowing as a clear stream of water, is a delight to read (the translator must be given credit) and a relief from the heavy pedestrian seriousness which weighs down much modern writing. Her images are always original but never forced; her humour is pointed but not unkind; her rich detailed descriptions of sensuous experiences are those of a connoisseur of food, people, clothes, and love. The story is set in the period just before and after the first world war, but the war is hardly mentioned. We follow the gay, wilful, and finally tragic career of a young man who lives for six years with a woman much older than himself before he casually marries a pretty young thing his own age. The marriage is doomed from the beginning, and the man, no lighthearted boy any longer, attempts to return to the warmth and comfort of his idyllic youth. This theme could well be sickly, sordid, or salacious, but M. Colette makes it none of these. She does not condemn or condone, but simply writes of what she knows, and the reader cannot help but see things through her eyes. It was only after I had finished the book, and began stripping away its exotic trimmings, that I realised what a masterpiece of compassionate insight into the problems of love and youth and age M. Colette has given us. —J. S. Sturm Parihaka Story, by Dick Scott, Auckland, 1955 14/6 (cloth), 9/6 (card cover). This work gives a lively account of a painful and regrettable episode of New Zealand history. In the main it is based on existing accounts of the Parihaka incidents published in the works of S. Percy Smith and others. Maori and Pakeha will be equally pained when looking back on these incidents and few will deny that Parihaka is a black page in New Zealand history. They will equally admire Te Whiti's wisdom and moral courage. Many, however, will regret the book's style of writing calculated to whip up emotion at any price. The Government has acknowledged, by accepting the findings of a Royal Commission, that injustice was done to Parihaka. Regrettable, too, is the violent and quite unwarranted attack on the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. E. B. Corbett, evidently prompted by nothing but the fact that he bears the same name as a Captain Corbett at Parihaka. As it happens, Mr Corbett is not related to the Captain. There is a big difference between history and political pamphleteering and it is to be hoped that a scientific and unbiased historical treatment of the Te Whiti movement may still be written before the essentials become quite impossible to ascertain.

INIA TE WIATA IN SAMOA TO MAKE FILM The famous Maori singer Inia te Wiata is in Western Samoa at present acting the leading part in a British cinemascope colour film. Entitled ‘A Pattern of the Islands’, the film describes the adventures of a young government officer in the Gilbert Islands. The film is being made by an independent British company, Lawrie Productions. A large number of Samoan parts will be filmed, giving the local population another opportunity to win screen roles. An American company made the technicolour film ‘Return to Paradise’ in 1952 and a small Walt Disney unit is filming another picture about Samoa at the present time.— Wanganui Herald.

Books of Today BOB SCOTT ON RUGBY (We can supply copies autographed by the author) 13/6 DOCTOR TO THE ISLANDS —Tom & Lydia Davis 15/- DOWN IN THE DRINK —Ralph Barker 12/6 WHO DIE ALONE —David Howarth from… 12/6 PAUL'S BOOK ARCADE LTD. HAMILTON Call, or write enclosing money plus postage

THE PARIHAKA STORY by DICK SCOTT “A vivid picture of on outraged people … a considerable piece of research … told with much sympathy and understanding.”—“AUCKLAND STAR” “Mr Scott is a passionate advocate for the Maori … his history, product of much research, would be even more impressive had he written it with less bitterness and violence.” —“N.Z. LISTENER” “Never have I read a story about New Zealand history which has thrilled me so … I could not put it down.”—“N.Z. BUILDING WORKER” Order from SOUTHERN CROSS BOOKS 84 St. Lukes Road, Auckland, S.W.I. 160 pages, illustrated, 14/6 (cloth), 9/6 (card cover