LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Stray Leaves. Those who remember, especially thoio who arc lucky enough to possess a copy of (hat bwiiitifuHy-iirodiiced volume, "The Collected Verse of Rudynrd Kipling,'' published by Hodder ami Stousrhton a couple, of years or so ago, will bo interested to know that a similar edition is to lw published of the "Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson." In addition to tho incomparable "Hound of Heaven," "The Mistress of Vision," ami "Love in Dean's Lap," of the poet's earlier publications, several posthumous poems by Thompson arc to be included. Apropos to Francis Thompson, the, Juno issue of "The Bookman' , contains a charming littlo essay, by Katherine Tynan (Mrs. Tynan Hinkson) on the poet and his Many interesting personal reminiscences of Thompson and his quaint (and for his hosts often somewhat embarrassing) disregard for social conventions arc given, and the article is accompanied by several equally interesting illustrations, including a reproduction of a drawing of tho poet's head by Neville Lytton. It is a pity the article could not hiive tan published na a prefaco to the. new edition of the poems. Many bookmen already possess the Burns and Oiile.s's three-volume edition of Thompson's poems, together with the accompinyint "Life," by "Wilfred Meynell. The "Bookman".article, if. pasted into the "Life," would form an interesting supplement lo that work. The .Tune "Bookman ,, (Hodder and Stoughton) has an interesting reference to the Into . Lieutenant William Hope Hodgson, who was killed in action on tho Western front in April last. [lodg--6on wrote several novels of sea life, making a distinct hit with his first story, "Tho Boats of the Gjen Carraig." Last year the.,re appeared in these columns a review of his "Captain Gault," a collection of 'humorous slories, the principal figure in whioh was a skipper in the Atlantic passenger trade who did a iittla smuggling as n ■"side-line." The lata Mr. Hodgson had seen two years and a half of war service when he was killed in ■France. Mr. Grant Richards,, tho well-known English publisher, whom, by tho way, many New Zealande.-s know bettor—<md gratefully remember—as the author of flint diverting story "Caviare," ,and tho equally delightful "Valentine," has inaugurated a new and decidedly attractive way of advertising (I nearly wroto "pulling") his wares. Instead of advertising a list of his new books ho writes each week for the "Times" Literary Suppleincut sonic brief gossipy notes, in which ho gives interesting particulars of how bi.q now publications are selling, personal 'details n< In their authors, with, at times, »limp-ns info his own literary preferences and 'prejudices. From one of I hi , ".'- cTiir notes—or letters, I suppose Mr. Richards calls Ihein-I make the following extract:— Every moraine I havo a list brought mo of tho books that sold on tho preceding

day. The list for the day preceding that on which I write is interest ins: for many reasons, and specially for the evidence it given of the closeness with which colonial readers watch tlvc English market. Thus 30 copies of S. l>. ]!. ilais's novel "Rebellion" have cone abroad, 50 of Alec Waiißh's "lioom of Youth," six of Thouins Burkes "Twinklctoos." seven of his "liimenouEC Nights," and len of .Tolm Heron liepnnrs UlHter novel, '■Tho Korlh-Eust Corner, a book which in Its kind has few ei/uals, and which in a happier season would navo attracted Xsr. more attention. . . .

It must surely have beim a poor "colonial mail day" which brought an order for only six copies of Mr. Burkc's horrorladen, but wieldly fascinating, "Twinklo-toe-s," a tale of London's Chinatown. As to Iho fifty copies of Mr. Waugh's fino story of English public school life, "The Loom of Youth," 1 think I know where the fifty copies went to. New Zealand readers'had to wait a terribly long time before those who do the selecting in- London for the colonial trade became aware of ills importance of the book. The name blunder was made with regard to "Sonia," stocks of which, after mouths of weary waiting, have- only recently arrived in the Dominion. . Would it bo believed that tho London buy r of one firm only sent out six copies oi "Sonia" when tho novel first appeared. The strange, old delusion that colonial readers only long for the works of Mr. William le Querns, Mr. Phillips Oppenheim, niul similar compounders of lurid sensationalism dies hard.

Another extract from Mr. Richards's amusing gossip deals with tho persistence with which, "with all the* alphabet to choose from," some men will.ehooso again and again the same pseudonym." Says Mr. Richards:—

How many "Q.'s" have there been sineo "Bend Man's llock" was published? A now one lias sprung up in the "iivening News." All Borta of things convince me that ho is not the author of "On tho Art of Writiug." Aud -Y. Y.," who writes about sparrows in the "New Statesman: He is certainly not the same "Y. Y." whom •Sir William Kobortson Mcoll will reinomlicr us ono of the contributors to the early "Bookman." .

Tho English translation of Roinain Holland's book on the war is, 1 believe, in great favour with persons of the pacifist persuasion. In. Franco tho extraordinary attitude assumed by the author of "Jean Christoplie" is, naturally enough, not a subject for enthusiasm. Thus * iind Laurent Tailhade, . the famous French critic (iu his recently-published essays, ".Books and Men"), dismissing Holland as "a musical Christian who prudently reached foreign soil, where, alter doing good business and making all he can out of tho dead and injured, ho blackguards as cannibals and cowards the fools who died for their country."

A notable biographical work is promised for early publication by John Murray in tho shape of "Tho Life aud Loiters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker." The biography, which is written by Mr. Leonard Huxley, is based upon incidents collected and arranged by Lady Hooker. Tho correspondence of Hooker and Darwin is largely drawn upon. AY. I. George, whoso clever novel, "A Second Blooming," was so popular, has writtdi a book entitled "A Novelist on Novels," in which he discusses the public tasto in fiction, and offers a critical estimato of the- present position of some of our modern novelists.

Admirers of Hugh "Walpolo's clever novale ehoukl note the. fact that copies of his latest book—and a very fine- bonk it is—"The Green Mirror" aro now availablo at the bookshops. This is a story which no lover of really good fiction should miss. Next to "The Duchess of Wrexe" it is the best etory Mr. IValpolo has yet given us. Mr. Walpole has written much upon English life in tho immediate' pre-war decade. It will bo interesting to see. how. ho will deal with that greatly altered life which began in August, 1911. Hβ has written one war novel, "The. Dark Forest," but its background is Russia, not England.

Sir Frederick Smith, 11.1'. (niiivs of irho.se promotion to a law lordship was cabled hist week), has written a very entertaining I ill lo book on his recent mission to the United Slat««. It includes' a description of a brief sojourn in Canada. Of Toronto, Sir Frederick -has.a wonderful t>tory to tell. In that .loyal cily alone, oii'an average nomputation, every man, woman, and child has contributed nearly JMO cacli, yet in ISSi) Professor Ooldwin Smith unnoiuiccd that ''Canada never lias given, and never will give, a penny to Imperial armaments." That highly original and thought-com-pelling story, "Tho Hugged Trousers Philanthropists," has long been out of print. A new ' and cheaper edition ' is being published by Mr. Grant .Kicliards.