SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 146, 15 March 1919, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION.

"White Magic."

Stewart White, Whose "Rivernian," "The lilazed Trail," and . "The. Silent Places" won him so many friends amongst New Zealanders, seems ..to have, deserted for a while the .Western American background lie once favoured. Ho how gives us stories, of big game. shooting and ad-; vonture generally in' Eastern Africa. In 1 "White Magic" (Ilodder and Stoughton), ho has collected seven excellent stories, or sketches—for t.lio fictional-interest therein is but very slight—in some of which tho principal -figure.is an Englishman of. tho Allan Quartermain type,- one Cuthbert=oll known to-tho natives as Kingozi, a mighty Nimrod specially skilled in tho limiting-'awl killing of lions, elephants,

rhi.noccros,' nn<l. Imft'alo, deeply versed in unlive full; lure; and superstition, and, last'bill mil least, a faithful, if unofficial, servant (if llie lOnijiiic. Others ,of the Stories have as l|ii'ir hero u fine native called fjimba, "the. Liim," whom Kingozi gradually trains. to lie an expert hunter, spivially qualified to lead a safari, hi: expedition. The title sketch.siiv.es an amusing description of a wily old African witch doctor, some of whose methods, and not a little of whoso genuine or cleverly-feigned belief" in the supernatural, suggest comparisons with tiie tricks .mid incunliilions of llie Maori loliumja. All the stories are'very'readable, .the best of.them being thai' untitled "A. Case of .Mutual liespcct," in which Siniba plays a very , prominent purl, other leading characters being a .'conceited yoiin:? British jieer who sutlers from "nerves,".and.his cool, determined wife, who, at first detesting.her husband's chief linn bearer, romes to recognise in him a truly gallant fellow;: Here and there Jlr. While s way of.telling his story reminds I me of Kipling's methods.. The stories are none the worse for that. Tim sooner Mr. White j;i ves nsauother series of.such excellent yarns as those to be found in "While.Jlagie" the belter f, for one, will--1 to? pleased. •• - • A Norwegian Storv. ''The Great Hunger," by .ioliann ] Sojcr -| (Hodder and Stoughtoii) is a novel which! in the original version has attained great-1 papularity- hml. lias • already been' Wans-'! liited info several European languages.'i llpjer's earlier'books' were, I liiivo' read,iriliiieiiced to' sojiie extent' by the author's, admiration for that -realism-'of which •Emile Zola was-'sd : fammis. aii exponent.; ln lii's latest" story, however, ' 'lie has changed'-both .subject .niid' method;-and. .gives his renders a very powerful' '.And 'interesting study of' Norwegian rural and maritime life. Without being' exactly jipssiiiiistic in tone, the story is,permeated by an N underlying note of grevness. Beginning with, the disappointment of four" Norwegian lads who capture what they flunk and hope is ' u splendid- ' salmon, whereas in reality! .it is.-ft"vicious and worthless shark, the story resolves itself; into li study' of the disillusions which fall to the lot of the hei'6, Holm. •' Jlc begins fife with a bar sinistei- .lis handicap,' but by sheer forco of natural nliility'and unremitting industry becomes famous in; his profession ■as a civil''engineer, making \a . considerable''fo'r't'uno' in -'/Egypt. • His good Vuclc, however, suddenly desert's liim, and the ehd-of the'stprv.leaves liim half-* blind,' plying the humble calling -of, a blacksmith in a little' Norwegian village, but bearing the burden of worldly failure and sickness with ' a . homely,; patient' philosophy; Tlio special interest of - tlio story lies in its picturesque presentation of ■rural life aiid'character.