VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 9

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Tho Country of the Ring and the Book, The criticism-passed.' by not a, '_ few. persons-' who' have , read Browning's tamous poem, "The Ring and the Book," has'!beeii, I fear, somewhat akin i;v tone,- .if not in exact expression, to that'delivered by that amusing young reprobate, Mark- Twain's Huckleberry Finn on'"The Pilgrim's Progress." "Interesting—but • tough,'- 1 " was Huckleboriy'suictum on Bunyan's masterpiece. But although' l "The.Ring and tlie Book" i 3 portentously long, and—in places—as "tough"-almost as the much-discussed "SorQclloi',' it well repays careful study. Such a study, which' personally I. claim to liavo found .a most fascinating task, is ,now rendered doubly agreeable, and decidedly easier, .by Sir Frederick Trevcs's new bOok, "The Country of tho Ring and' tlio Book": (Cassell and Co.; per S.; and W. Mackay). In a handsome tome, most generously illustrated, the author of "The Other Side of the Lantern" and other delightful works of travel, gives, first, a clear and yet .detailed account of the famous Franwshini tragedy,. upon which Browning, having one; hot day in Florence, purchased at a bookstall a "certain squaro old yellow book," built upon the facts hg found set forth therein a poem which, despite its alleged "obscutity," tlio 1 "Athenaeum" pronounced, when it was published, to bo "tho most prccious and profound spiritual treasure that England,has produced since the days of Shakespeare." That "square old yellmi book" now lies in the Library of Balliol Cellege. You can, if you so wish, buy a g<sod reprint of tho work for fifteen pence in tho invaluablo "Everyman's Library." Sir Frederick having given us. a,, summary of fie story, then proceeds to describe, in proper order and 111 great detail, tho scenes of the poem, doling specially with tho routo followed by Pompilia and Caponsacchi from Arezzo towartfs Rome, and giving us many charming word pictures, accompahiwKby yet more delightful photographic illustrations, of tho quaiut old cities and towns, to-day, in outward appearance at least but littlo changed from what'thgr were in tho later seventeenth century. In a third section, Sir Frederick analyses and comments shrewdly and learnedly upon the'chief ligures in the Mem, often elucidating what have nithcrto been bard nuts for tho Brora-

ing. student to crack, and helping his readers who know the poem to _ further appreciate its innate charm. Sir Frederick has evidently gone to an immensity of trouble in identifying and describing tho various scenes of the story. Tho illustrations, of which there aro a large number, form a specially attractive and valuable 1 feature of a book to which all Browning lovers should accord a hcartv welcome, and which should, assuredly find a place in every library, public or private, of which'a copy>of "The Ring and tho Book" is a rightly treasured possession. Some Coming Novels. Spring is coming! Tho English spring, of course, and with it the spring publishing, season, and its accbmpahinient of a host of new books. I knon; there aro those who profess to' emulate' Hazlitt's example and "read an old book every time a new ono .appears," but this is not Hazlitt's age; and the booksellers at least do not grumble over the latter-day cry for "New books,'-more new books, always' new books.". Amongst the publishers' announcements aro some specially tempting it-ems in tho way of fiction. I rejoice, for instance, .over .the fact that William l)e' Morgaji- promises us. another "three*" decker," as Mr. Kipling would,say. The j title .is, ; "When Ghost Meets. Ghost," and the story frill, it is said, bo more 'on the lines, of "Joseph Vance" and "Alice-For-Short" than of the author's two last books. Mr. Heiuertinnn also promises new stories .by "Richard Dehan" (Miss Clo Graves), Flora Anne Steel, and Maurice Hewlett, "Lucas Malet" (Charles . Kingsley's clever daughter, Mrs. St. Legcr Harrison) '.will j be represented by "The Wisdom of Damaris," a mid-Victorian romance, and Mr- ; E. F. Benson by-"Dodo the Sec-" ond," a title eminently reminiscent' of his earliest . success.' W„ J. Locke's "Fortunate Youth," now running as a serial m the "Pall Mall Magazine," will soon'.le available-in, volume form; Mr. Stewart Edward- Whjte promises ns a story. of the • Califoriiian gold mining' eriod; -and thte -author Ksf -that delightful, book,"Elizabeth and Her German' , Garden," •is stated to: have a , long new ' novel' ready for publication. \ Another novel, to,which I shall look forward, is "The Making of a Bigot," by Rose Macaulay, whose "Lee Shore" displayed' so mucli promise, and Neil Munro's "The Now. Road" is a Blackwood book which' is eure ' to be worth reading. Hunifrey Jordan, whose ."Patchwork Comedy"' found many admirers, will publish, through Putnam's, a new story bearing tho ■ curious title- "Carmen and Mr. Dryasdust," and ' Horaco Annesley Vachell, in "Quinney's" (Murray), : breaks new ground with the adventures and misadventures of a dealer in antiques. Other now novels are due shortly- from Baroness Orczv, Una Silberrad,'; | Rider Haggard, an'd F. E. Mills Young. LI Hung Chang and the Interviewer. The American newspaper reviewer is not easily abashed, but one young gentleman who interviewed Li llung Chang in New York must- have gone away feeling rather small. In Li Huiig Chang's recently-published "Memoirs he says that some of the questions put by the interviewer were rather too personal: "Ho wanted to know how many wives I had, and after I b»d told him I had as many as I needed, he was imper.tinont enough to ask how many I needed.. .. The question did -not please me, byt I did not let him know it, for that would have been a satisfaction to him which Ldid not wish to give. And so I qsked: 'How many wives hare yon ?' He answered quickly, 'None.'. 'Good,' ,I said, .'you look as. if-you; might be able 'to.-take care of .-just that number.'" iTlio'story. reminds mb in a way: of ..that told' by :Mark Twain .of his' interview wjtli Brigham Young, Mark's. brother, .who' was assistant, governor of Nevada, or something of:that'.sftrt,j-/,failed.on tho prophet and .toolt ■ MarKi'r;the>i quite .a, young -man, with hinij •. As.-, tho two elder men chatted, Mark would every now and then chip ill with sor.>o remark jj'lticlij 'so he tells'us, he t-hbuglit would Strike tho great Mormon leader's attention. Never a word, however, did Brigham Young say to Mark, but when at last the interview was oven he put his hand on Mark's bc-nd, and, turning to the elder Mr. Clemens, said blandly: "All, your child.! suppose—boy or girl ?" I am quoting from memory. 'Die full story appears in "Tho 'Innocents at Home." "The Treaty of Waltangt." Mr: T. Lindsay Buick has been advised by cablegram that the copies of his forthcoming boob, dealing with tho signing of : "The Treaty of V'aitangi," were shipped bv the Athenic, which leftLondon on February 5. As ifc is just seventy-four years ago this month since New Zealand became a British colony under the diplomatic arrangement entered into with the Maoris at Waitangi, Mr. Buick's narrative of how this interesting event was -brought about by Captain Ho-bson and those associated with him should prove a . welcome addition to our historical literature. Tho book has been printed by Messrs. R. and R. Clark, of IMihburffh, and Messrs. S. and W. Mackay, Wellington, 'who are the publishers, hope to havo it on the market about the end of March.