NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 13

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

PIERRE LOTI. I It is pleasant to have a life of Pierre Loti which is charitable without being silly. Loti suffered so much in the early days of his fame from matter-of-fact suspicion, so much in tho later days from romantic and extravagant praise, that it is a very real service Mr Edmund B. D'Auvergne has done him in giving his "romance,'' threo years aftor its close, just uliout its proper mixture of grey and pink. For Loti was neither a great writer nor a groat man, nor a. negligible writer nor a little man. Ho had remarkable talent without having a remarkable mind, and the sensibility of genius without its depth or insight. It, is, oi course, not pleasing to Englishmen that ho was all his life as shrilly and ludicrously hostilo to them as he was blindly devoted to the Turks, that he would not oven, as a sailor,, remember that our Fleet helped in the Great War, and when he wanted to see India, mapped out a fantastic course through States that would not bring him under the shadow (except for an hour or two at Calcutta) of the infamous Union Jack. He did, oddly enough, visit London once to see ono of his plays produced, sntl was almost conquered by an unexpected presentation to Queen Alexandra, who at once sent for and presented him to King Edward; but as soon as he got back to Franco he did his best to cleanse himself again of any lingering infection. He contracted a Japanese marriage "for experience"— temporarily, of course, ancf in strict accord with Japanese law —lived with a Tahitian girl, and made a special journey to Herzegovina to find an unspoiled shepherdess; spent more than halt his life worshipping, first the living flesh, and then the romantic memory, of a green-eyed Circassian he contrived to meet in a harem; and when he tired of mistresses and intrigues, o r rather, long before no tired of them or gave them up, arranged a typical French marriage of convenience in order to have a Bon and preserve his name. He painted his face, wore high heels, brooded because he was neither so big as he wanted to be nor so handsome, hated progress, and lost his head as often (and it was fairly often) as he met Royalty in the first, second, or third degree. And yet he loved France. He never, at any age, or in any blaze of light, forgot his friends, or his native town, or men or women of any rank with whom his life had ever brought him into close association. He was devoted to, and popular with, men of all ratings under his command on board ship. He went to quite extravagant lengths to be kind to dumb animals. He sought, honestly and long, to find religious truth, and when faith evaded him he still maintained an outward but reverent connexion with the church of his youth through courtesy and devotion to his mother. Indeed, there | is nothing in the literary history of either England or France more sincere,. more beautiful, or more lasting than the devotion of Loti to the Huguenot woman who at first coddled and spoiled him, and then in sorrow and tribulation learned to be the strongest, purest, and most steadying influence in his life. Mr lyAuvergne begins, a little foolishly, with a romantic rhapsody and vision. Ho ends with the true and revealing remark that the secret of Lrrli was compassion. (London: T. Werner Laurie, Ltd.)

THE ZIMMERMANN COOK. There can be nothing but praise for the translation of Zimmen.uuin'a "Account of the Third Voyage of Captain Cook" (1776-1780) carried out ty Miss Tewsley (under the direction of Mr Johannes O. Andersen) for the Alexander Turnbull Library. 'lt is perhaps the case that Miss Tewsley's admirably chosen language makes us wonder whether wo are reading the diary of a plain German sailor or a skilful and comparatively recent forgery; but there are apparently no grounds for suspicions of that kind. The work has been accepted by scholars, and it is sufficient for the rest of us to read and enjoy it, as wc certainly shall if we are capable of enjoying Cook himself. Some will enjoy it more fully because it docs not wholly agree with Cook, and if we suppose that it is Cook who must be followed where the records differ, it is still the case that Zimmemiann tells us a good deal about Cook that Cook does not tell himself—his disciplinary measures, for example, and surprisingly fiery temper. The most remarkable feature of the narrative, however, is its high intelligence and sustained good sense, and it is a very great service to the Dominion that it should now be available to everyone with half-a-crown. (Alexander Turnbull Library, Bulletin No. 2.1

NOVELS. As the- title indicates, 'Pacing the Love of Women," by Giuseppe Bianco, is the story of an unusual bond of affection existing between two men, who were brought up as brothers, but really had different parents. The main theme of the book is incredible, since it invokes the desertion of every responsibility, yet the author has really written something exceptional and original. He develops his story with an intimate knowledge of human emotions and the part they play in moulding the affairs of men, though it might have been better if the drawing of his main character had been a little more subtle. As it is, he does not succeed in rousing the intended sympathy for Hal, rather giving the impression of a weak and spineless, if fascinating figure, unworthy of such lavish devotion. The other characters, however, are realistic, while the childhood part is charming. The writer also displays a knowledge of aristocratic English life, and an observation of the lesser-known aspects of the country, hardly compatible with his foreign name- One indeed almost suspects that Bianco is the pseudonym of a new British writer. (Cassell and Co., through Whitcombe and Tombs.)

"The Master of the Microbe," by Robert Sen-ice, is a highly imagine tive novel dealing with the suppo<sed theory that a professor has discovered a microbe, capable of killing thousands at a time, with which he projjoses to wipe out the entire French nation. Unfortunately Mr Service is so very generous with his blood-curdling incidents that the narrative rather lacks cohesion. Most of the action is laid in the underworld of Paris, which abounds with Apaches of the vile.«t type, so that the book altogether is decidedly strong fare. ( London- T. *.sher Ltmin, through Simpson and \\ llhams.)

"Out of These Things," by James A. Morley, ig unusual, in that being a novel by a man, it is decidedly feminine both in conception and treatment. The chief character is really an -old house, which haß seen many adventures and vicissitudes, and is, at last, in the occupation of the circus-like family of an eminent scientist. The author does not quite get the atmosphere he desires, since all the happenings would have been more logical without his continual references to the old bnilding. The

plot ia, however, unusual, and is unfolded in such an old-fashioned way, reminiscent of old ladies in mittens, that it will be read by some with curiosity, and by others with real delight. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd.)

Those who consider how small a part the films have played in books so far, will realise that Mr Arthur Applin, in "London Love," had, and threw away, a golden opportunity. Although the book has reached a popular edition, the plot and style are both so absurdly sensational that anyone who could read it a second time would deserve a New Year decoration. (Mills and Boon, through Sands and McDougall.)

Although the plot of "Passionate Youth," by Edward Charles Heed, is a little different from the usual run of such romances, the treatment is much the same, and it is merely a pretty little story suited to light feminine taste. The "old cosmopolitan Frenchman, Gaspard, is an artistic creation, quite worthv of a place in a better book. If ~Slr Reea learns to control his saccliarine tendencies, he may even some day be a little interesting. (Lcndon: John Long.)