VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 9

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

"The Rose of Ravenna." Many a timo and oft has tho tragic yet beautiful story of the lover of Paok and 1< rancesca been made the subject of poetic or dramatic treatment. From l)ante to Stephen Phillips—a lougo intervals—the story has inspired much praiseworthy, -sometimes most notably successful, verse, Thoro is always room, however, for a newcomer, especially r. I'], A. Yidler, in his 'Koso of ltavenna" (Gcorgo llo,bertson and Co.); tho nowcomer brings to his task an appreciably dclicato and graceful poetic fancy and a_ fine grip of tlio purely dramatic possibilities of a nobly inspiring tlicmo. Mr. Vidler, who is tho editor of that useful publication, "The Australian Book Buyer/' exhibits, in this dramatised version of the famous story of mediaeval passion, a fine command of language, at ouce vigorous and harmonious. Also, he has a delicate and graceful fancy. As thus in Act 11, Scene 1, Jacopo (to L'ulalia): A sweet love ballad on a sunny lawn, A sip of wine, a gracious lady's smile, Ferfumo of'roses borne on summer breeze, Thou, I, and^Love— a trinity of bliss 1 • This is true living, or Life were a myth. ■

Mr. Vidler is to bo commended for the brevity of tho speeches placed in the mouths of his leading personages. The story proper is never clogged by mere verbiage, of , which there always seemed to' me, at least, to be moro tnan a mere suspicion in Stephen Phillips's much over-praised treatment of tho same subject. Personal!} - , I feci quito grateful to Mr. Vidler for tliis_ fine dramatic poem of his, for in verifying tho basis of one scene I was impelled to take down a dust-covered Danto from my shelves, and to note moro.than-'ono splendid passage, for a long-postponed re-readmg. Mr. Vidler's book, too, posseses a feature of special interest in its fine illustrations, from tho clever pen of Mr. Walter Seed, a young ijrtist, who, judging by his work in this volume, has a great future before him. His work is somewhat reminiscent of that of Byam Shaw, whoso admirable drawings to an edition of Shakespeare—for tho moment I forget the publisher's name —were so much and so deservedly admired. Mr. Seed's head and tail piece 3 to the various scenes are particularly charming, but his frontispiece, in many ways a very clever composition—suffers, in.my opinion, from it being printed in a yellowish tint. The samo drawing, left in its original black and white, would liavo been much more effective. The printof tho volume reflects the highest credit upon the Melbourne firm of printers responsible for its typography, and tho binding, for-which, so I assume, the publishers aro responsible, is agreeably tasteful. As a gift book, Mr. Vidler's volume should havo a, sale. It is good literature presented in an exceptionally attractive form,, and my only regret is that owing to the heavy pressure on my space at this season of the year, when "review copies" are pouring in almost every day, I cannot give the hook that more detailed appreciation that its merits fairly demand.

A Wonderful, Shllllngsworth.., Messrs. Ward, Lock and Co. have 6ent us (through S. and W Mackay) a oopy of their new Australian Cookery Book. Specially, written : and compiled to meet tho. requirements of Australian nnd New Zealand homes, it is attractively produced, a special feature being its numerous coloured and other illustrations. In addition to tho long list of dishes, familiar, at least by name, to most Australian and New Zealand housewives, 1 notice that advice is given upon tho preparation of not a few "plats," the names of which would,-1 fancy, sadly puzzle an Oil Country cook. Amongst others, are Bandicoot, Flathead. Grana<li)las, Groper, Kangaroo, Kumara, Trumpeter, Paw Paw, Choka,-Gramma, Malleo Hen, Murray Cod, Paraqueet, Rosella, Scrub Turkey, and Wallaby. At its extremely modest price of a shilling, this well-printed, liberally-illustrat-ed Australasian Cookery Book should havo a very largo sale.

Scribner's. ... In tho November number of Scribner's Magazine (Constable and Co.), Colonel R-oose/elt continues his studies in tho life historv of African animals, devoting special, attention to the "rhino" and tho hippo." Vernon Lee's "Rides in England" are graphic littls pen sketches of tho North and West Country, of London, and the Thames. The accompanying illustrations in colours and tints, by Howard Giles, are very good, but some of'them suffer through over-printing.. The two serials, by' Edith Wharton and-John Galsworthy, respectivolv, are concluded, and there is somo excellent short fiction and ooetry. Tho special fen-turn of the number is an ac- ' count by Dr. Hudson Stock. Archdeacon of the 'Yukon diocese, of an ascent of Denali (Mount M'Kinley), with illustrav tions from photographs by the author., Burns tho Farmer. N In'the .'August,-issue of tho "British .Review," an excellent publication 'which is not so. woll known as it ought to" bo, Professor Geddes has a very interesting article entitled "The Homes of Burns." Professor Geddes seems to think that Burns tho farmer has been too much forgotten in Burns the. poet. In his opinion Burns would have been a success as a farmer, but -lie had no capital,' and that in many ways the decisivo disaster of Burns's tarcer was his losing his Edinburgh Chair of Agricslture, which would alnost seem to have been within his reach. In the "British Weekly," Sir William Robertson Nicol, referring to the articlo ill question, acclaims it a fresh and most suggestive addition to Bumsiana.

Pi Borrow Story. . There is generally a good literary article in "The Cornliill," a magazino for which I lufvo a groat affection, having got most of my small knowledge of literature from iho lino essays by Lcslio Stephen and others which appeared in the good old yellow-covered magazine in tho days of my youth. In the September number, "Urbanus Sylvan" (Canon Beeching) writes very pleasantly on the Borrow Celebrations at Norwich. I can only find, room this week for olio extract: —''A good man, but a strange creature," was the description once given of Borrow by his wife; and the illustration offered of his strangeness was strange enough in all conscience. "Do you know he will say to me after breakfast, '-Mary, I am going for a walk,' and then I do not see anything more of him for three months. And all the' timo ho will be walking miles and miles." Mrs. Borrow was a woman of strong sense. . She was prepared, as Sirs; Grundy never is prepared, to find a certain amount of "strangeness" in persons of genius; and because they were "strange," slip did not hint that they were not "good." A Portrait of Thackery. In Henry James's new autobiographical volume, "A Small Boy, and Others," couritloss little portraits nrc evoked out of . tho past. One of these is this glimpso of Thackeray: "Still present to mo is tho voico proceeding from my father's library, in which some glimpse of ni« hovering, at an oDcniinr of the

door, in passago or on staircase, prompted 'liim to tho formidable words: 'Come here, little boy, and show mo your extraordinary jacket 1' (A small New York boy at that time wore a little shcath-liko jacket, tight to tho body, closed at tho neck anil adorned in front with a singlo row of brass buttons.) My sense of my jacket became from that hour a heavy one —further ciirichcd as my vision is by my Shyness of posture before the seated, celebrated visitor, who struck me, in tho sunny light of tho animated room, as enormously big, and who, though lie laid on my shoulder tlio hand of benevolence, bent on my native costume , tho spectacles of wonder." "Liber's" Noto-book. "Loiterer's Harvest" is the title of the latest published collection of E. V. Lucas's delightful cisays and sketches of which "Character and Comedy," ".Firosido and Sunshine," and "One Day and Another" wero earlier volumes. Chesterton and Bclloc arc, maybe, cleverer, more "stimulating"—detestable adjective—writers than is Mr. Lucas, but to me his essays • aro tho nearest approach to Thackeray's famous ".Roundabouts" than wo can hope to have in these degenerate days of forced "smartness,", exaggerated flippancy, and straining after the ingenious paradox.

Lucas's admirers should note, too, that "London Lavender," the latest of tlie series which its author calls "Entertainments," the series to which belong "Over Bemerton's," "Listener's Lure," and "Mr. Ingleside," is how obtainable in tho handy little "foolscap octavo," or pocket format, in which its predecessors havo been issued A Lucas book is an ideal present for a friend /who likes something more solid than a novel, and essentially light and readable. But do not, I pray, give "Loiterer's Harvest" to the admirers of Mrs. - Florence Barclay, or tho Shake-spearean-visaged Lord of Greeba Castle, Mr. Hall Caine, to say nothing of tlioso who find literary delight in the works of tho over-prolific "William Lo Queux, the pious and platitudinous Joseph Hocking, or the ultra -"smart" and not a littlo suggestive, Sirs. Gwyn. To such Mr. Lucas will be a much alloyed joy. Francis Gricrson, in his new volume of essays, "Tho Invincible Alliance," wants to know when Kipling is going to write about London. According to Mr. Grierson, Kipling has "dissected tho veins, sinews, and arteries of-tho Empire, but tho heart he lias scarcely seen." Surely Mr. Gricrsoii does not know his Kipling. Has ho forgotten "Bedalia Herodsi'oot," and tho London scones in "The Light that Failed," and tho nocturnal adventres of the overbibulous Mr. Brugglesmith (in "Many Inventions")?

In view of the recent controversy, in English papers, upon tho "banning" of certain books, the London "Star" recalls tho fact that the good Lord Shaftesbury declared ■ • that . "Ecco Homo" was "tho worst book ever vomited out of hell." In the same connection,' 'lefc' me' tell a story of Thomas Hardy, .which ..may bo now to some, at least, of his New Zealand admirers; As you all know, "Tess of'tho D'Urbevilles" gave great offence to that section of tho literary world wherein tho "dear vicar's wife" rules as an authority, and naturally, when tho yet moro outspoken " Judo tho Obscure" followed, thero was a still fiercer outcry from the "Prudes and tho Prurients." Ono London paper —was it not tho "Pall Mall Gazette," during tho.regime of "Good Man Stead"— ingeniously - and rather ill-naturedly called the story "Judo tho Obscene," greatly to Mr. Hardy's annoyance. A few weeks after tho criticism appeared, the author was a guest of the London Savago Club, and was shown by the chairman of tho evening a heavy war club which once belonged to tho famous Indian chief "Sitting Bull." "How much?" sighed Mr. Hardy, as ho swung the club. "T should like to havo this in my hand when- I meet tho critic who called "Judo the Obscure" "Judo tho Obscene." There was an embarrassing pause, for the culprit was among tho guests.

Apropos to Hardy,- do 1 not forget to keep an eye on tho forthcoming colonial edition (Macmillan's) of the new volume of Hardy's short stories, for there is sure to bo a run on the book, and in these days of strikes and "delayed shipments"—the phrase is m.v bookseller's— the hook-ljuyer's motto should be "Buy early." "Liber" is amongst those who deeply regret Mr. Hardy's latterday affection for poetry, and would rather have one short story—say one of thoso in "Wessex Tales" or "Life's Little Ironies," than a shelf- full of his laboured and disappointing efforts in verse, such as "The Dynasts." Memorandum for country readers, who arc in doubt as to what to order from the city bookseller in tho way of fiction. Here is a good, reliable list —"detective" fiction and tho saccliarinely sentimental rcgidly excluded—of recent novels well worth reading:— "Bendish," Maurice Hewlett. "Tho Passionate Fripnds," H. G. Wells. "Sinister Street," Compton M'Kenzic. "Hearts Courageous," H. E. Rives. "Tho Lodger;"- Mrs. Bclloc Lowndes. "Notwithstanding," Mary Cholmondeley. "The Coryston Family," Mrs. Humphrey Ward. "AVhore tho Strange Roads Go Down," Gertrude Page. "Tho AVay of Ambition," R. S. Hickens. "Thorlcv Weir," E. F. Benson. "The Governor of England," Marjorie Bo wen. "The Regent," Arnold Bennett. "Tho Joy ol' Youth," Kden Pliilpotts. "The Lure of'tho Little Drum," M. Peterson. . "Tho Dream Ship," Cynthia.Stockley. "The Two Kisses," Oliver Onions. Tho order is not that of estimated merit, and, needless to say, allowance is made for varying tastes in fiction.

To be noted by readers of French, readers who cannot afford expensive socalled "standard" editions, is tho "Collection Gallia," published by that good friend of poor book-lovers, .Air. J. 11. | Dent, Here, for a modest shilling (lifieenpence in New Zealand) you can have the pick of Alfred Do Mussct's poems, the "I'ensees (the linotype excludes tlio accent) of the grave and subtle Pascal, that little masterpiece of Flaubert's, "La Tentatiou do Saint Antoine," or, yet asnin. the ultra modern "Ennemi des Lois" of Maurice Bnrres. Those' are wonderfully cheap bccks at fil'teenpcncc. Surely too good to be true! Tho latest library Gtory, from London "Book Monthly"—original source, I expect, American. Small boy rushes uji to the circulation counter and says: "Mother, says, please will yon send her "Browning's pair of scissors." The attendant was at first at a loss, Init suddenly tho fact dawned upon him that tho request was for "I'aracelstis'"