LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1764, 31 May 1913, Page 9

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.S., Newtown—List of Reie Bazin's books next week. H.C.P.—Thanks, but no space to spare. Student-List of C.TJ.P. Manuals can be got at Whitcombe's or Machay s. A Literary Theatre for Wellington.

The very generous patronage accorded to Mr. J. M. Clark's and Mrs. Hannah's production of Wilde's (and Sturgo Moore s) "Florentine Tragedy" makes me wonder whether it would not be possible to establish a Literary Theatre Society in Wellin"ton. Such an institution exists in Adelaide, and is, I believe, a decided financial success. Had wo had a Literary Theatre here wo might hope to see some of Galsworthy's and Granville Barker s short plays staged. From the ordinary theatrical managers, who feed us up on commonplace drama of the stagiest possible description,. the drama of the muchadvertised smirking mummer and his too liberally advertised female companions, to 6ay nothing of vulgar and so-called musical comedies, we need never 1 expect to get anything which will appeal to an intellectual audience. But a Literary Theatre with, say, a couple of hundred subscribers at halt u guinea a year, as a necessary financial standby, might give us'better things. Perhaps' Mr. Clark might bo enterprising enough to take the matter up. Once started I believe the project would prove as financially as artistically successful,/ At any rate, I throw* out the suggestion.

The Late Professor Dowden. In liis always informative and readable Literary Letter in London "Sphero (April 19) Clement Shorter gossips agreeably about the late Professor Dowden. Mr. Shorter considers that Dowden s greatest work was done as an interpreter of Goethe, although ho was best known, perhaps, by his Lives of Shelley and Southey and his works on Shakespeare. Not lone before he died Dowden told Mr. shorter that nothing could bo further from the truth than a statement, made in the London "Daily News," that he had ever countenanced the Baconian craze, to write the . Life of Shelley, says C.K.S., Professor Dowden abandoned a great work on Goethe, in which he would have done himself more justice. . . . »His great learning was unquestionable. . . . Dr. Dowden, by the way, more than once tried to escape from Dublin. "He ardently desired, as he himself told me once, the Chair of Poetry at Oxford when it was mado vacant by Matthew Arnold's death."

The "Reader's Library." Ono of,-tlio best books of poetical criticism, Stopford Brooke's "Four Poets' — Clough, Arnold, Rossetti, and Morris—has, I notice, been added to Duckworths admirable "Readers' Library"—(2s. Gd. net). This is a series which I have often commended. Tho volumes are of a soodly "librarv" size, and some exceedingly fifio work, copyright work not procurable elsewhere, is included. Tho series includes, for instance, Birroll's "Essays"—the "Obiter Dicta" series complete—and lie Stephens's "Studies of a Biographer," which are almost if not quite as good, as the. same author's famous "Hours m a Library." Stray Leaves. The biography of the season will bo tho authorised "Life of John Bright," which ■ Mr. G. M. Trovelvan has written, and Messrs. Constable and Co. will pubjish. * * * Winston Churchill, the American novelist, not the British politician, will liavo a new story out, through Macmillan's, very shortly. The title is "Tho Inside of tho Cup." • The author of "The Crisis,' "Richard Carvel," and so many other excellent novels, has a host of admirers in New Zealand, who will bo glad to know that his new stol-y will soon bo available in Macmillan's Colonial Library.

' Maud' Diver, author of "Captain Desmond" and other excellent Anglo-Indian novels, lias a new book out with Blackwoods. The title is "Suiiia, and Other Stories." Mrs. Diver is now, I rend, engaged on a sequel- to that excellent historical story, "The Hero of Herat."

The Juno number of "The Windsor" (Ward, Lock and Co., per S. and W. Mackay) is to bo a special Shakespeare festival number, containing twenty-live portraits of prominent actors and actresses, who took part in this year's Shakescoaro festi-

val performances at Rtratford-on-Avon. | Shakespeare lovers should carefully serve these special numbers of "Tho Windsor." When bound up in volumes, say four years in one cover, they mako a most acceptable addition to any collection of "books on tho Bard." ■* * * Keprints to bo noted by lovers of good and cheap fiction. In Macmillan's Sevenpenny Library, the following titles of recent additions strike me as being specially attractive: "Richard Carvel" (Winston Churchill), "The -Philanderers ' (A. S. ». Mason), "Tho Virginian" (Owen Ulster), "A Village Tragedy" (Margaret L. Woods). # « « A shilling edition (fifiteenpenco hero) of Oscar Wilde's famous, or, perhaps 1 should say, notorious "Picture of Dorian Gray" is now purchasable in town. Dipping into its pages the other day, I ™imd much of the old charm had gone. Wade was far too obviously out to epater le bourgeois"—to shock and to sparklo at all costs, . , » » George Du Manner's three novels, "Peter Ibbetson," "Trilby, and -the Martian", are now obtainapjle m two shilling editions. The popular vote goes, of course, to "Trilby," but, to my mind, "Peter Ibbotson," tho first of the three 'stories, is by far the most artistic piece of work. t Kipling has turned dramatist. A plav from his pen, "The Harbour Watch, was to be given for the first tune on Apul 22 at the London Royalty. Cu-rious that the cablegram man should nevK-r have mentioned whether the production was a success or a failure. But tlie poor man, ! you see, is kept so busy cabling out details of the latest 'orrible murder.

The boom in English translations of Sh'indberg ■ grows apace* Ridoi' and Frank Palmer, two now publishing firms, have issued several of Stnndberg s books recentlv, notably a volmmo of short stories. "lUarried" and the "Inferno is another recent issue. Quite a number of pteople who have never read a page of feaizac and Thackeray, Shelley, or Goethe, are gushing over the productions of tho newly "discovered" Teuton pessimist. # ; v #

"The Times" (Literary Supplement) is always valuable, if only for its brief review of new foreign publications. In the issuo for April, favourable mention is made of a. new story, "Pelleraud," by 11. Audibert. A "roman picaresque, _it would appear, ■with a very fascinating vagabond as hero.

Cassells announce, I see, a new serial publication, "Tho Kailway Wonders of tho World," "a copiously illustrated work to bo completed in 21 parts, at 7d. each." It will tic interesting to see whether the Wellington-Johnsonville suburban service will bo included amongst the wonders. It certainly deserves a place therein.

Those who enjoy John Galsworthy s plays will be glad to know that a second series of three plays (in one volume) is now available (lis.). 0 * * *

I• am looking forward to a treat in Locke's new story, "Stella Maris," which was to bo published in. London just before the last mail left. Copies should bo available hero towards the end of June.

In Nelson's Shilling Library, two new volumes, which ought to have a l>ig sale, ■are "The Voyage of the Discovery, by the lato Captain Scott." Hitherto tho cheapest edition of this fine work has been in Jlacmillan's Colonial Library, ini two volumes, at 3s. Gd. each.

Nelsons also announce a sixpenny edition of "Tho Old Lieutenant and his Son," by the lato Dr. Norman M'Leod, and, in their seven penny library, a reprint of Arthur Morrison's study of slum life, ."A Child of tho Jago."

Tho collected works of the late Francis Thompson,' whose - remarkably beautiful pct;in, "The Hound oi' Heaven/'' can now,. 1 notice, 1)9 purchased in a shilling edition, were to b-e published in London this month in three volumes, two volumes devoted to Thompson's prose works, one to to his prose. Many pa s ms will, in this edition, be printed for tho first time. Burns and Oatcs are the publishers; the price, 6s. per volume, net.

Messrs. Houghton Mifflin and Co. laid in a special stock of forty-two tons of paper to be used in the printing of Henry Sydnor Harrison's new novel, _ which is to bear the quaint title of "V.V.'s Eyes. , If it is to have anything like the success of "Queed," that amount of paper and much more will be .speedily distributed among tho author's numerous readers throughout the world.