A GOSSIP ABOUT SOME GIFT BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 11

A GOSSIP ABOUT SOME GIFT BOOKS.

111. .... V-V-; By the Author of "Tho Amateur Gen* tlDßian." "... n^' 10 H° ,,o "rable Mr.. Tawnish,"' by veflrey Varnol (Sampson, Low, anil to. ; per George Kobertson. and Co.), is 11 short but vigorous and. highly-roman-wo narrative of the courting of Miss 1 enelopo Chester by .an elegant young gentleman who, at first. taken' for a sensc-less, conceited fop by the', harddrinking,' fox-hunting, duel-fighting ■ country gentlemen .amoiigst • whom"ho finds himself, proves.-to'-.be a. man of■ mettle as well of -courtly .-...maiinprs. How this elegant .write? .of . to Ins fair lady's thisigentleman of the well-dressed •■^vig i '/;the', brocaded coat, and satin breeches.jof ultra-fash-icnable cut, _ first'-./makes . tlio \ bully of tho district, Sir . Harry. Haikes,. a famous and much-dreaded duellist, cut a most ridiculous figure, passing himself off as the notorious highwayman, Jerry Abershaw; how lie takes the part of the gouty old father of his sweetheart in a duel, and pinks the doughty Kaikes in the left lung; and-how he triumphantly carries off the fair Penelope as his bride, with hardly so much as a "by-your-leave" to tho astonished parents, is recounted by Mr. Farnol in the same spirited stylo which contributed so largely to the success of- the author's well-known stories, "The Broad Highway" and "The Amateur Gentleman." The. only fault I can find with tho story is its brevity. -The volume contains a scries ( of coloured illustrations from drawings by Mr. C. E. Brock, who is almost as much at homo in' : 'a later eighteenth century .milieu as is Mr.-Hugh Thomson. These pictures of Mr.'Brock's,'.together with tho exceptionally handsome typography and the tastefully and effectively decorated binding of the book should cause "Tho Honouraole Mr. Tawr.ish" to be much in demand this v Christmas as a gift book." (Price,' 75. ; -6di) -

Books for Young People. Tho mantle of that popular writer of books fori boys, the late G. A. Henty, has : clearly been .'inherited by Captain Broreton, who' is how firmly established in favour with bay-readers. Captain Brcreton gives his admirers, this year two exceptionally interest-ine yarns. The first, "With Wellington in-Spain—A Story of the Peninsidar War" (Blackie and Son), has for its hero a fine young Englishman. Tom Clifford, whose father is the principal partner in the old established firm of Clifford and Son, wino merchants, of Oporto anJ London. Young Tom goes out to Portugal for the firm, and a verv exciting story Captain Brereton has to tell of his hero's many thrilling adventures in t'he Peninsula. There is a desperate villain' in the story, who'is'Tom Clifford's secret enemy, and who gives tho young _Engljshriian>'a heivp of trouble beforo he is finally. ;iinmaskpd and his unscrupulous schemes defeated. The story has also a finfe-historical flavour, and gives a ver.V'usjflid' and interesting outline of Wellington's long and strenuous campaign in tlip Peninsula',' tlio assault and captured Ba'dajoz and the sanguinary battle of Salamanca being described in detail.:/ The reader accompanies Wellington on'his 'the Iffics of Torres;.#^-'and,:<wit-nesseii tho Englisli-:;Comriiandur's >triumph\,in sweeping-Portugal-clear of the enemy; the hero winning a commission', and later cn./.b'ecbming. ~.tlie youngest colonel in t'he' army. A spirited "rattl-, ing" varn.is',ihis: : of~Cajjtain Brereton's, just the lad is .illustrations, by W Rnn«, RI, are vigorously drawn tionallv fine to .attrari'iyencss .of the vol-' ume. (I'rice, Cs.)

Another Brereton Book. Captain Brereton's " second story, "Witli the Dyaks of Borneo; a Talo of tho Head Hunters" /(Blackic and Son), is another excellent yarn for' youthful icadors. Tho liero.: Tyler Ridiardson, the son of a retired naval officer, sails for 'the China Seas in H.M.S. Dido, about the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign, and after seeing service in''the Malay Archipelago generally, makes a lengthy stay -n the then almost unknown island of Borneo. The author has utilised the story.of tlio foundation, of Rajah Brooko's regime In Sarawak very cleverly, and his .pages' are closely packed with exciting.- - omscdes including bloodthirsty combats with Chinese and Malay pirates, adventurous expeditions into the Borueari interior, and thrilling experiences amongst tlio saVag'o.Dyaks, the hero eventually becoming leader of n band of natives who support the British rule. A very humorous Chinamail, Li Sung, .provides somo excellent comic relief. Mr. Hainey's illustrations are again very spirited and '.attractive compositions. (Price. 3s. 6d.) "Through Veld and Forest." Harry Collingivood runs Captain Brereton very . close in the race for popularity .as a writer of tales of youthful daring and adventure. This year he is exceptionally successful with a long and thrilling story, "Through V eld'- and Forest'' (Blackic. and Son). Tlio'scene is laid in South Africa, tlio hero, Ned Laurence, being tho son ot a British-born settler in the Cape Colony. TJio ... parental farm being sacked by Zulus, young Laurence serves for a. time in a corps of volunteers,: seeing much active service in. the Kaffir War of 1835. Later on ho treks to the'then far north, Basutoland and Mashonaland, in search of fortune, and makes his way up into the country; of the, Bandokoio, eventually returning .liome, after experiencing a long series 'of exciting, and often dangerous, adventures, with a goodly storo of treasure, in the shape of ivory and precious stones, with the procccd's of which ho .restores and extends the family estato at Bella Vesta, to which, too, ho brings..a youilg and handsomo wife, whose acquaintance he has made under strikingly novel_ arid romantic circumstances. •, The interest of tho story'never: flags from the.'first to tho last of its many chapters. Illustrations, in tint,! by Archibald Webb. (Price, 55.) "A Clri of .Cal : m" Katharine Tynan's story, "A Girl of Galway" (Blackio and Son), is a welltold and mosfj interesting talo of tho trials and adventures of a young lady who, when leaving school, goes to live with a miserly old grandfather in tho West of Ireland. Bertha Grace is as determined and sensiblo as she is pretty and amiable, but for a time the task she lias set herself to perform, namely, the reconciliation of Sir Devlin Grace and his son, the heroine's father, seems quite hopeless,' especially as the girl has not only to combat the old man's own prejudices, but tho insidious and unscrupulous 'plotting of a rascally steward. . Fortunately she makes srjno■ goad frionds, and in tho end an old feud is buried, tho rascally agentis outwitted-and'exposed, father-and son are happily reconciled, and Bertha's own love story, and a very pretty, love stow it is, ends as, all . pretty love, jtciries ought to do. Illustrated by John H. Bacon. (Price, 3s. 6d.)

"The Adventurous Seven." Bessie Marchant's- amusing and pleasant story, "Tho Adventurous Seven" (Btackie and Sons), relates tho strango experiences of some very jolly children, whose father,-a doctor, has'gone to Australia, and is,, unknown to his family, under a cloud, having, made, so it has been, thought, a. serious mistake in an operation. The children go out to Australia, and through an error the father is not advised of their departure from They;; make' their way upcountry from Sydney in a. wagon", and after ail adventurous journey find that the .doctor to whose houso they have been directed' is not their father. Tho eldest girl of tho Plumstead seven is, however, as .practical as she is plucky, and happily also the children find some good friends, the story'ending with the discovery of tfio .'lost.' father, with a second discovery that.his name has been fully-cleared, and the opening up of ?, new life for all, a life which gives good promise of comfort and happiness. Miss Marchant rivals Ethel Turner in her delineation of children's character, and tho story should find many interested readers. Illustrated by W. R. S. Stott. Price, 2s. 6:1.

"Cousins in Camp." The -scenes of Mrs. Theodora WilsonWilson s "Cousins in Camp" (Blackie ana Son) are laid in the picturesque Lake district of Northern England, a district which this author lias made her own. The story of the young Rontons and their cousins, who go camping up amongst the lakes and mcors, and who meet with many strange and varied experiences and adventures, makes excellent reading, and those who remember Mrs. Wilson's earlier story,' "Jim's Children," will be glad to meet n couple of old favourites once again in Bridget and Jim. Early in the story tliero is a very exciting episode, the destruction of a big' Lancashire mill by fire,' and a romantic interest i:< afforded by the secondary story of Raymond Mart'ineau, a young man who,, in accordance., with the terms of his uncle's will, serves for a year as a rural postman. " Gordon Browne, R. 1., contributes some excellent illustrations. .(Price, 2s. 6d.)

Tabloid History. A new volume in Blaokie's "Great Achievements" series, "Heroes of European Nations," by A. H. Hope Moncrieff. would form a most suitable present for a. boy or girl who is fond of history. Mr. Moncrioff starts with the Greeks and Trojans, and gives a long series of historical vignettes ending wit'K Napoleon and Wellington. The' author wisely selects _ the most dramatic and picturesquo episodes in the varied story of the European nations,' and has managed to paek.'iuto a single volume a Vast amount of interesting information, conveyed in a very agreeablo and essentially readable form. The illustrations, are excellent. (I'rice, 2s. 6d.) For Quito Young dhildren.

Children from, say, six to ten, are also specially catered for by -Messrs. Blackie. Alice Cockran'a "Down tli6 Snow Stairs, 'riifyii-From--Good-night to Good-morning," a pleasant little childish story, witli illustrations by Gordon Browne, should provide .a. fund of dolight for girl readers.,.;- (Price, 25.-Gd.) "Old Testament ;StpriM;*!'. bj - ' ;• Theodora Wilson-Wilson/' with its big print, its charming illustrations in colour by Arthur A. Dixon, would make an-ideal present for a girl or boy to whorii the usual story-books are tabooed on dull Sunday afternoons, and would be just the thing for a Sunday School prize'. (Price, 2s. Gd.j . "Tcddy!s .Adypjitures," by Mrs. Henry vClarko (Blackie),-is a collection otsiinply.tolcl,.interesting.tales, specially^ written: for the amusement of quite young children.. • With its beautiful coloured • illustrations, and attractive: binding,, thisi-yplumo is a marvel of cheapness at its price of a shilling.

Somo Picture Bocks. Picturo books never lose their popularity with the "kiddies, ■' and the pre-' seut-day child is specially lucky in having so wide a choice of really interesting and artistically produced works of this kind. "A Child's Book of Umpire," by Alice -Talwin Morris (Blackic, 2s. 6d.), includes a series of interesting sketches of life in tho overseas Dominions. Mr. Charles Robinson's illustrations, some iu colour, aro very Well drawn. New Zealand is, I notice, represented by a double-page drawing, reproduced 'in colours, of a Maori pah, and the kea, tile kaka, and tho kakapo are the subject of a special article, with somo excellent black and white' drawings. Practically every part of the Empire is represented in the book, from which any intelligent child can gain much useful and interesting information. "My Book about the Post Office," by Edith Roberts, with illustrations in colour by Thomas Somerfield (price, Is. 6d.); "My Book of Doggies'' (6d.); and "Freddy Fr.izzylocks," ' pictures by Angusine Macgregor, rhymes liy Olivo Clarke (25.), aro three more books published by Messrs. Blackie, all of which deserve tho attention of parents who are looking for suitable presents for ouito little folks. An Old Frlenri in a : New Dress. Many versions and adaptations of "Aesop's Fables" have appeared, but none in'a handier' and more tasteful form than that in which they are now presented l bv Mr. F. C. Tilnoy, who lias edited and illustrated tho Sarnous apologues accredited to Aesop, the Greek. Trie volume ill which the fables, now make a reappearance is a rccent addition to an excellent little series, "Talcs for' Children from Many Lands," published by Messrs. J. M. Dent and C.o Mr. Tilnoy prefaces tho fables by somo interesting notes upon tho writer to whom these pithy little tales are generally accredited, but h'lio was by no means the inventor of the art of fable making. As Mr. Tilnoy says, "There were fables told'in India,-in Persia, in Arabia, and no doubt in many other countries of antiquity, but it v. as probably Aesop who made tlio custom so popular." The editor has wisely omitted tho "morals" which usually appear in editions of Aesop. A special feature of tho present edition is tlio scries of illustrations, reproduced in colour, by tho editor. Somo of t'hose, notably "The Lion in Lovo" and "Tho Fox and the Grapes," are exceptionally good drawings. Tho cover design, carried out in gilt on clue cloth, is most tasteful. Altogether an ideal Aesop for young people. (I'rico, 25.) As an author who can make one forget that life is really a very serious thing, an author who is out first and foremost to amuse her readers, oummend me to Dorothea Conyers, of whoso capital stories, "The Strayings of Sandy," "Three Girls and a Hermit," and "Tlie Boy, Some. Horses, and u Girl," so many of us have pleasant reminiscences. In' Miss Cnnyei-s's latest story, "Sandy■' Married" (Melhuen and Co.; per Whitconibe and Tombs), wo meet once again, under 1 somo exceedingly droll circumstances, our old acquaintance, Sandy, and tlio fun is just as fast and furious as it \vas ; in tho story of his earlier escapades mid n isadveiitures.