VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 9

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Two Interesting, Queries. A correspondent (."Biblpn") asks' me toexplairi hmy'it.is.that English.novels,' published at Os.'in the Old Country, are. .procurable in. New. Zealand at 3s. 6d. A second .query is, how, it-comes about that from time; to timo books' become ''remainders," .'and are-purchasable, in now ..condition, .at 'prices ' much : below those-charged when they, first appear. .As "to query JS : o. 1, I can only surmise that'..the. publishers, recognise that -colonial reader? will not pay, Cs. for a novel:. Originally the colonial "libraries"- or-editions, consisted of mere reprints.;of popular novels and other works, Messrs.. Jfacmillan being the pioneers. After a time, however, the publishers discovered .there was . a big market for.-new fiction in India and Australasia, and added new books to their series. Gradually the custom arose of issuing alniost all new novels of any note, or .likely to prove saldablo here —not-always the same thing—in'slightly cheaper and different covers, but at 3s. 6d. instead ,t/f 6s. Then-came a third, and last stage,''in which most— nearly: all—of the new novels are sent out here in .the same binding as that in which they are issued in London. 1 suppose it pays the publishers to .give A'ew Zealanders their fiction. , at a cheaper rate .than English people c&n buy it at.; Th'at is their affdir, and I for one do not "grumble... But "Biblon" should note'tho'fact th'at the, nominal English "price , -bf 6s. is .in'.'practice re-, 6d.. ; by, the'2s per' cent, discount-allowed by m'ost' H'oihe booksellers lon 'non-net books,' bo that tho difference .between.-,the .Home. and * jNewZealand prices, is. really.,only, a,.shilling,: not As to. quory~No.'2, •'remairidfirs!;; ;ar'ei -oftenVi though,- not ism, hayo '%'iot canght onv , '' Often they are books;'wh,iq|i/:-.hav.Q'; beoii "oyerprinted.'-', .-.Sphieilimes, top, they are the publications of firms' which'.wish to realiso .quipldy. P.'vIII. sphib;--indeed, very' many instances, ''remainder", books aro of merely bphemeral interest, and.importance, ■ aud when tho • first. flush, of their sale is over, they stand on tho publishers'-shelves in such numbers that they mako a mute but irresistible appeal to-he ''cleared." And "cleared" they are, to-the- highest bidder. Often a "remainder" 'book is not worth buying, eveirat'-th© vastly-r.educod pricoat which it is offered, by the firms which, specialise in "remainders." Sometimes 1 , on the other .hand, though this is of relatively'rare occurrencey a.book may bo "re'raaindercd" and, yet go steadily up in valiie v until it is only procurable at a price actually higher than that'at which it was originally published. My corespondent will find, in the ' catalogues of Mr. John Grant, of Edinburgh, and Francis Edwards, of London, «omo excellent "remainder" bargains. Any enterprising bookseller will show him a.catalogue, and will procure him tho books ordered—if tho "remainder" be, not .exhausted —by the time the order gets Borne —for an advance of 20 to 25 per cent, on tho prices quoted. In my timo 1 havebought not a few "remainder" copies. Some have proved real bargains. Others —well, I prefer, to remain silent as to my mistakes. I hope. "Biblon" is satisfied. Not • being in the book trade I can only give him what I believe to be fairly correct answers to his queries. Mountains in the Mist.

From certain, personal references in "Mountains in the Mist—Some Aus-: tralian Reveries,": by Frank W. Bore- \ ham (C. H. Kofly; per George.Robertson and,Co.)j I 1 gather that tho author is a Presbyterian minister who. lives in Tasmania. , - Mr.. Borehara deals with a great varioty, of. subjects, in tho 'essays, he lias collected under tho above title. He displays .116. great depth or. originality of thought, and his quotations from authors who are. riot always of the iirst rank are numerous, and, attimes, unnecessary lengthy.' But'thero is a quiet, homely, gravely philosophic -tone in tho essays which' makes 'them.' very pleasant -reading.' They, preac> courage and perseverance, sincerity, and true human, ity, pud'although their general tone is religious, tho author worries us with no merely theological argument, and his outlook on life is invariably one of kindly toleranco/, for human weaknesses, deep syriipathy'with.thDse,who fall by tho way, and honest,congratulation of the succeshil, /whero,. .success .. has been achieved' by.patient' and / v honourablo effort.- \ Many of.'the. essays have evidently beqii, suggested by eveiits ebromcledin tho 'cablegramr., yet-in nono is the interest'merely'ephemeral, never is the .treatment-commonplace. , ; In all tho .doings of tho world the author:perceives and traces.,the workings'of a creator's hand,"arid examines them and discourses upon them with a penetrating insight wiich often bears fruit in somo gravely wise and -useful 'thought!' A resthii, helpful, book is .this'.of Mr. Boreham. It contains not a few references to New Zealand, of-which country the author was at one tiine a resident. (Price 3s. 6d.) St. Simon in English. An announcement which will bo of interest to not. a few Now Zealanders is mado by Stanley Paul and Co., whose now sp_riug list includes "Tho Memoirs of tho Due do St. Simon," newly translated and edited by Mr.-Francis Arkwright, in six volumes, of which will be ready in tho spring, the remaining volumes, two at a timoj to be issued before tho end of the year. Mr. Arkwright, I. may remind my readers! was for'somo years: a much-ostcenied resident of tlio Hangitikei district, and sat for somo timo in the Legislative ■Council, resigning his membership' of ,tliat. body in -—, when, he returned to thq Old. Country. Mr. Arkwright had an exceptionally .fino private library, in irhieli' "Liber"..gratefully remombers being first introduced to'.. lf St.' .'Simon's Memoirs. 1 ! '■''e most fascinating of all Greek' historical works.' /The study of St. , Simon'.a ml"'of. 'eontompor.iry .Ficiich historical rccoids hasbcen almost a life-

loug hobby with 'MrrArkwright; and his ■notes: should bd .exceptionally interesting. It will ho interesting to compare his selection and translation with Baylo St; John's work.on'.'tlio same' subject, Ivhieh runs,-if I remember rightly, into three volumes/ arid which is, I fancy, out of • print. ... . . "Omar Fitzgerald" on Madame da '. Sevlgne. Those who knew tlioso delightful books,'. "Tho Letters of.'Edward Fit*. Gerald," edited by Professor Aldis Wright (Evorsley Library), will bo interested to-learn.that Macmillans will shortly, publish,- in tho-same cheap and handy form, "A Dictionary of Madame Do iScvignCj" by Edward FitzGerald, edited and annotated,' in two volumes, bv his'great-niece, Miss May Eleanor FitzGerald Kerrich. The "Dictionary" ionsists of. brief essays by FitzGerald 011 persons mentioned in .'the "Letters of .Madanio Sevigne." In his old , nge, Laird of Little Grange/ , as.it was FitzGerald's pleasant ■ fancy to, entitle himself, used to read and reread : tho famous "Letters" of his "Dear Lady of'.Los Rochers"- with neverrfailing inteerst and delight. In "More Letters 6f Edward' FitzGerald" ■ and "The. Letters of : Edward .Fitzgerald to Fanny ICemble,"' which supplement Professor Aldis Wright's -first-.selection, 'may'! lie found many references to Madame de Sejvgnels work. FitzGerald, • in ; his "Letters,-" hinted-moro,than onceHhat ho was compiling-such a work as is'now, bo - many. years. after his ■ death, to' be published. To Mrs.. Cowell, wife of the_ Professor friend who sent him copies of .the Omar manuscript from Calcutta, FitzGerald ■ wrote: in 1877: "I have herb two of my dear "Sevigne's, Letters," la'tely, discovered, at Dion, and I am writing out for my own use a Dictionary of the Dramatis. Personao, figuring in- her Correspond-, ence, whom I am always forgetting and confounding." In 1880 ho wrote to Charles'Kcene, the "Punch" artist, that ho had-"plenty of .Notes for an Intro.; ductory, Argument and List of Dramatis; Personoe"'... . "but .1 . shrink, from I try-ing .to puti such .Notes into shape'; all-writing always' distasteful 'to me,. and now very ■•difficult, , at'seventy odd." :'Somo.:sucli Introduction," he adds, "would-be\very useful, people being, in general,; puzzled, with persons,-., dates, etc., if -not. -revolted .by . the eternal, though sincere/fiiss about her Daughter; .which tho Eyo gradually learns to skimoyer, and yet to -flip Fun.". .'Since • the!odd-'.use of capitals'in the above-ex-tracts may"surpriso:thpso of mv readers who do: not know FitzGerald's "Letters," to. ray mind , a..vastly moro important'literary gift-to the world than bis famous .version of ' 'The Rubiayyat," I liiav' mention that tho■ eccentric hut lovable o|d recluse had a fad. for writing certain nouns with*-capital letters. Out of the Dark. . ■. Everybody who has : rca'd that extra-ordinary-book,- "The, Story of'My Life," by Helen-Keller, tho % wonderful,' young American woman, wh'o, although blind, deaf, and dumb from birth, has proved herself a.scholar, a poet, arid a keen student of,, and.'.thoughtful writer upon, many social.problems.of the day, should he pleasodi to welcome another vpknie bearing her-name: on- .the title page. This is "Out of the.Dark" (Hbdder and Stoughton', per-S. and W. Mackay).. Miss Keller's, new book is/-in a large degree, though'not wholly,,a; collection of article's ..contributed by her to leading American, and , English, reviews and magazines.on some of-the most-i important topics, of .the day. Several of the chapters. deal>.with'tho education of the blind, especially blind children, and on:.such, a.- question. Miss Kelloj writes as an expert.- 'Her political..view-s'aro set forth iii the chapters "How, I Becani'^'a ,1 Socialist,^. I "'Tlfe. Hand of theWqHof , "-nnd !, . v 'Tho Workers' Right,"' whilst, other .sectiqus. ..of., the \ book ...are devoted' tervaribus questions affecting tho intellejtual and'political.advance of women; ■ Many-, of : tho: articles, or essays, breaihe a deep Sympathy with tho unfortunate and.downtrodden, and are imhued with a pronouncedly religious feeling. In discussing tho various subjects dealt with, the .author displays at times quite remarkable literary power. That such a bppk could, have ueen written ■by- anyone so pathetically afflicted as is Miss. Keller, .is in itself an eloquent testiony.to her remarkable powers'of concentration and her capacity for triumphing, over what to most people in her position would have'proved-insuperablo difßc.ulties.. . (New Zealand price, - 35.6d;)'-. ■ ' Liber's Note Book. /There are some- promising, items, in Stanloy Paul's "Spring Symposium of Books," a list of new books to be issued during the coming publishing season by this firm. To Mr. Francis Arkwright's new translation of ■ "St. Simon's Memoirs" I.haye.niado special allusion elsewhere. ,A book.wh.ich should appeal to .theatre-goars is Mr. Sydney Dark's ."Sir.. Herbert Beerbohm, Tree and . the ' Modern Theatre," but. personally I should .prefer a book , of considerable- literary.. importance,. ."The Victor Hugo-Drouet' Loyo' Letters." Juliette Drpuet was tho lady,who, although hot tlie. great poet's wife, followed^him.in his-exile , in Brussels, • Guernsey, and Jersey, and inspired.somo of his finest poeins. Two historical works of importance in the. list aro "A Martyr of Love"—tho Life of Louise de la valliere, by Claude Fefval; with ah introduction by the French poet Jean Bichepin, and "Tlio Romance of Leonardo da Vinci," by A. J. Anderson. Amongst forthcoming hovels from this iirm.aro "The Gate of Doom," by Rafael Sa'batini, whose book' on "Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition" has been so'.well reviewed; "A Gentlewoman of, France"—a^; English translation of one of R-euo Bqylesve's c'h'a'rming and wholesome stories; "Frivqle," by 3Cate Horn, and; stories->by-Anncsley Kenealy,' May. "Wynne, Maud' Stepney. - RaWson, ' H.. Noel . Williams; and."'- other. : popular writers. . " " , ' To be rioted in', the. January' "Boqkma'n," a long and interesting article oh the Dutch/nbvolist, M.aarten .Alaartens, .whose real' name, by .the way, is JoqstMarius Willqm Van.dcr Pobrten-Sch'warz —what a mouthful I-... Maartens writes as easily iii English and German as he does in his-native Dutch, aiid all.:\ylib have road "God's Fool" and "The Sin i of Joost Avclingh," .-.to'- mention V twoonly, out of ' a." long:-series , of- popular novels, ■ will agree that- ho' ivrites remarkably well. He leads a quiet life as a. country 'gentleman "oil "bis fine- estate ,tlic : quaint' old : Dutch town of Doorii, 'whence' ho,, makes occasional visits to .London, where, in literary circles, ■ l\o';is'(yell known and very popular.- Another gqod feature "''in' the last I "Bookman" is r an./excellent article, b.v Walter Sichel, on t-ljo recputly-puWished 1 'Life. of Bulwer _ Lytton." The' Februr ary issue.of tiiis.deservedly popular raagdziiio is to bo. an/Aiiatelo. Franco number, and will contain a. special articlo on.tho "Twentieth Century Voltairq," by." that sound and always suggestive critic, Thomas Seccombe. In a week or t\yo I hopo to find room for a specinl article'on a book which all good bookmen should buy. Tins is Sir \\Tlliam Robertson' , Nicql's "A Bookman's Letters," which.is a book to buy "for keeps." Sinco Augustine Birrell's famous "Obiter Dicta" I , have not read a more doligbtlul scries of .purely literary essays than nro contained in Sir William. Nicol's , hook. Tho New Zealand price, is ss'. 6d., and those who aro wise will secure a copy without delay. I am informed by Slessrs. Macniillan's Now Zealand representative that tho firm intend to place upon the Australasian market' very shortly . a uniform edition of'Kipling's'.works, (including the books of verso issued by Me.thuen's) at the very: moderate price of threo shillings a voliimo. .The size". will., bo crown octavo, and. tlio cloth binding will bo of a npat aiid olfcetivo design. Such-iin edition, shoiildbi; a priMil-bbfln f<i Kipling's admirers'iii Australia and Key;. Zealan d ,' : ■ ■ ; ' '