IN DEFENCE OF BOOKS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 20

IN DEFENCE OF BOOKS

TO TOT EDITOB OF TOT PEEBB. Sir, —In his able defence of" books Mr R. G. C. McNab raises so many interesting points that it is almost impossible to deal with them in a few words. His views about the cul-. tural value of books are so sound, as to be endorsed by most thoughtful'people.- Books first and last, by all means. Film and radio jact too often as shortcuts ■ and substitutes, only adding to large-scale confusion; they are the dope of the people. At the. same time I believe there is a case to be made for these two new-' comers. I even think both could b* included in the; sum total "of precious things, even if at this present stage,' they are only inferior handmaidens to arts already estabr lishecL " ; '' : -'

If wje are discriminating and use these devices rather than be used by them, we will find ourselves with, a richer awareness to the porary scene. For instance,, last night I heard on the radio unaccompanied voices from Dijon Cathedral in items from Palestina and Vittoria,; some Poulenc, and a Mozart Concerto. Even if the films are 90 per cent, rubbish, they have given us the road to life: "Dr., Caligan," "Tabu," and "Pitz Palu." Might it not be more profitable to integrate new modes of expression, instead of rejecting them >oJus -bojus? After all;*we can't turn clock- back. The film, and radio' are new forces set loose,, commonly perilous,.l admit; still, we can, use them, even use them well. Remember, Turner painted ' a.. locomotive; Whitman wrote a poem about one; Emerson said a steamship might be as beautiful as a. star; Thoreau, who loved to hear flip wind in the pinewoods, listened with' equal pleasure to-the music 'of --'the- telegraph wires.— . Yours, etc., ". ~<:.- *v» JESS BARCLAY. • r September 6,1938.