BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2641, 11 December 1915, Page 9

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

THE COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL'S GIFT BOOK. \ ' A happily-conceived and most laudable enterprise - has been carried out with, quito notable success in the ,prouuctibii and publication-of "The Countess of Liverpool's Gift Book" (Whittombe and Tombs, Ltd.). The entire profits from the sale of this handsome volumo are to be diverted to the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers of New. Zealand, ,'and. we feel sure that when once the' public see and, appreciate the literary and artistic attractions ot the book it will enjoy a most extensive sale. ' Success tho Gift Book should certainly; achieve, on its intrinsic merits alone, quite apart from tho excellent object in aid or which it has been plaained and produced. It is by no means from :any-spirit of local pride that the handsome quarto can be adjudged fully .equal to tho various Royal and Gift - Books which . have already appeared: iu aid of various deserving movements in connection with the war. The typographical, work is admirable, while the production, of the manyooloured. and - black and white illustra- , tions which adorn- tho pages of the book, and ite. binding and "get up" generally, all;'reflet the highest credit upon its printers'and publishers. That a volume' of so-artistic and attractive o. character should , have been produced in New Zealand ; speaks well for the advance made by tho Dominion in. tho art of book production. . The literary bont'eiits are : singularly varied, including historical • sketches, u'bort storiei, some of: dramatic, others of humorous, interest, and some excellent verse. The .include some of the best-kuo« r n professional • and amateur authors of tho Dominion. A brief preface,- signed-"Annette Liverpool" and produced in facsimile of Her Excellency's handwriting, expresses her thanks to the publishers, who, it may be added, are reaping no financial benefit whatever from the book, and to the various contributors, literary . and artistic. Next follows '"A Ballade of Brave Hearts," by Mona Mackay, and a long series of stories, poems and sketches, led off by a humorous storyl of sea life by Captain Manning. Amongst the contributors L notice the name of Sir , Robert, btout, who gives.. eomo sago counsel as ■ 'to the character our ' "Preparations for Peace" should assume;. _A. _A. Grace contributes one of hie inimitable Maori sketches;,.and Arthur Adams, the.exiWellingtonian,_ "a' scathing' poetical satire ("Gott Mit Tins"); upon the absurd and'• semi-blasphemous claim of -the Huns that their hellish deeds have direct Divine authority- and approval. :W. F. Alexander's account of how a country township set about its war fund campaign is a capital bit of humour, and other contributions in .lighter .vein are those of E. D'Esterro, E. N. 6. ;Poulton (ail exceptionally comical yani), A. ,D. Wylie,. and others. Will Lawson, for once, deserts , his: favourite .. maritime.- subj ects,-and? gives■„ us'.-, a .'teUingf.'.and 'humorous '. little"story of a ■ 'rabbit parliament," , and " useful contributions to .the. :history. of; the- war are made by Messrs F. 0. Rollett, W. D. -Andrews) ; James - Cowan, James Dnimmond, E. D. Hoben, W. H. Triggs, and others.' . ■ .As I have said, "The' Gift Book" isexceptionally strong in verse. The temptation to quote iB sev.ere, but space limits'.sternly'forbid .this., I select for special-approval the 'beauti- - ful verses, "The Lion Knight to Belgia," of Jessie Mackay, the noble tribute to the "Mothers", of New- Zealand by Edith . Howesa-, pathetic tribute to the- "Fallen.-at Gallipoli;" by Isabel Maud Peacocke; tho. delicately-. . phrased ; verses, on a. Maorimotif,- "Aorcre 011 the,Beach,",by R.-E- Baughan; arid the lines,-fiill of .a'stately .dignity;-,'; both of thought and metrical l expression, "Iu Memory of. Gallipoli" by Johannes. C. Andersen. - Other literary features must perforce- be left, unmentioned, but it is evident that general standard of ■ excellence set' up by tlie , editor,;' Mr. A.. W. Shrimpton, of Chnstcbnrch, has been laudably high. , The artistic features of the book i will come 1 as an agreeable surprise to the many New Zealanders who are ignorantof tho general and marked advance, made by the professional and amateur artists of the Dominion 'during the 'ast few years. An excellent coloured reproduction of a photographic portrait of Her Excellency Lady I/iverpool forms a most" suitable und attractive frontispiece. - Other- coloured plates are reproductions of original paintings, in oil and water-colour, by tlie lata John. Gully, Cecil Kolly, the well-known Christchurch artist; the late Charles Condor (a South Anstrali?n by. birth), J.; Ford Pator6on, also, I think, an Australian, ' and Georgo Walton, the .latter .au- English artist: It would have .been better, I think, to have confined the artistic contributions to those of New;. Zealand, painters, but 1 presume the pictures "reproduced are in the possession of New Zealand collectors.' Amongst the' full-page plates in, line • and half-line, are reproductions of works by the late Mr. Van Der Velden, Messrs. C. N. Worsley, R.8.A., ■Sidney ;, L. ; '■ .Thompson (formerly of Christchurch). William Greene (an excellent animal study), W. Menzies Gibb ("A Bit of Old Christchurch"), J. M'Donald (a fine Maori head),-and Vio> let Nelson, whose "Pirouette" is a quaintly-charming figure. , Of humorous subjects there aro quite a,', number, including examples of the. pen and *penii ~l o rk of Trevor Lloyd; J. Macdonald, L. H. Booth, and David Low: Mr. iW. A: Bowring, too, scores heavily with a-well-drawn - humorous study. Alentiou must- also be made of the many adniirable illustrations in the text bv Mr. Walhvork, of Christchurch, whose work in this, genre is specially effective, and Messrs. L. H. Booth and Trevor Lloyd.- ' The decorative headings and tail pieces by Ethel S. Jones, E. Cowan, A. IT. Goodwin, . T. Lloyd, and J. Mac Donald are also worthy of high praise.' '

Altogether, "The Countess of Liverpool's" Gift Book" is a publication of quite exceptional interest.. Tastefully garbed .in a-pale green silk cloth cover, it should form a welcome addition to everj- library, public or private, In the Dominion. . As a present during the coming gift-book season it should enjoy special popularity. The book is most moderately priced at four shilllngs. An edition de luxe,, bound in full suede. leather of a delicate green tint, and containing on the title page the autograph signature of Her Excellency the Countess, of Liverpool, is also on sale, price twenty-five shillings. My heartiest congratulations to all conoerned in the of this most charming and interesting publication.

Lord Redesdale's two volumes of : "Memories" were to be published in London p.t the end of October. Lord Rodosdale was formerly and much better known as Mr. A. B. Freeman-Mit-ford, whose "Tales of Old Japan" still remain the best account of old-time Japanese life that has ever been published.