LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 60, 4 December 1920, Page 13

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Stray Leaves. Macin'.llans. anitounco an edition do luxe of Lord Jlorloy's works, in fifteon volumes/at a guinea each, Tho format is to bo tho same as tlifrt of tho collected editions of Tennyson, I'ater, and other authors .published by tlio samo firm. For- my 1 own part 1 am' rjuito satisfied with the well printed, handysized edition of. AforleyV "Voltaire" and other works which 1 possess in the excellent "Eversloy" odition, but . tho wealthy book-lover who likes to own long sets of expensively got up volumes will no doubt biiy' 'this new edition. There is ovideutly a' 1 big market for those collected editions, produced in a handsome garb and sold at high prices, for I notico that the "Mellstock" edition" of Hardy, recently issued by Macmillans at a guinea a volume, is already exhausted and only obtainable at a premium. Howaver, if the "new rich," who, so I am told, are the principal purchasers of theso editions dr< luxo, like to spend their money.-.11 pon .exponsivo books—even if Itlicy" nevor i'fad them—instead of cigars, 'at two shillings each and costly 'braids ■ of wine, they are not to bo blamekl, although 'by tho true book-lover thoy may not bo envied, for at least they will have something to show for flwftr expenditure, somethVng which urn? give to some bookish descendant in the years, to comoCarpentier, the great] French pugilist, has written his reminiscences—or, what is more probable, has got some smart journalist to write tlicm for him. The .book, is said to be very amusing. Carpentier did his bit in the war. Ao a flying man he was twice mentioned in dispatches, and he got both tho Croix do Guerre (with the coveted extra palm) und 'the Medailie Militaire. ~ A .New Zoalander, Captain C. A. W. lloncktori, son of, tho late Dr. Moncktan, Urmnir a veU-kaowa aettlec w th»

IJaiigitikei district, hag written a book, 501110 Experiences of a, New Guinea Jiosident Magistrate," whioh Mr. John Lane will publish shortly. Another interesting announcement in Mr. Lane's autumn list is a now Look from tho uinndian humourist, 'Professor Stephen .Leacoclc. "winsome Winnie and' Other •Nonaenso Novels." t new story, "Lady Ltlith, lias, 1 read, for i;(s chief figure a clever, impulsivo society girl, whose reckless escapades had disastrous consequences to her reputation." Surely tho faonia motif might bo given a rest.' Frederic Nivcn, whose powerful stories of hdinhiirKh and Glasgow life, "Ellen Adair . and "Justice of the Peace," caused- much indignant protest in certain m c . ir ■ has writte n' a new story, , ■ 'lhafc Is Told/' tho' subject being Glnsgo'w family life. Two forthcoming new stories by lady elists whoso work very strongly in subject, nnd style, bur> who are both very popular with tho novel-read-ing public, are "Tha Breathless Mo-' 5n 1, „ by ? lui ' iel Hine {author of „™ rt !,v an( i "April Panhasard") and «m °? Uf !4?' lc * V May Sinclair, whose . Ireo ot Heaven" was considered bv many good critics to bo greatly tho superior, as a study of pre-war English' ]I. 1 "' ?* G. Wells's clever, but, as ' Liber will always consider, great,ly overrated "Mr. Britling Seos It Through." Macmillans aro aiso issuing a new edition of the late W.. B, Henloy's works, in five volumes, at seven and sixpenco each. Somo. years ago a seven volume edition of Henley's writings waa published by Elliot Stock, and very beautiful books they are. Henley's 'poems, notably the splendid "Hospital Verses," which.litv'wrote when ho was an.'inmate of an Edinburgh hospital, wliero Steven son first made his acquaintance and practically befriended, him, are well worth putting on one's shelves as a permanent possession, and his book of literary esBays,'"Viiews and Reviews" includes somo very brilliant stuff,-, far superior in the way of sound criticism to.much- 0'!. the pretentious writing-of this kind turned out nowadays. .

'' It is an open secret in London literary circles that the author of the nv cently-published "In the . Mountains," which has bixvt the subject of so .n»niy eulogistic reviews, iB none other than tho clever lady who gave us, now many years..lago r ' that delighl-iul book, "Elizabeth and Her German Garden." Elizabeth -is the cousin of' a gentleman well known in Wellington banking and commercial circles.. Apropos of tho centenary of the -first issue of "The Monastery," it is pointed out that Field-Marshal Lord Ilaig is descended from the ancient family of De Haga, or Haig, to which reference is inado in tlie' author's epistle introductory to his.famous novel.; Lord, Haig took his title' from the family holding of the De Hagas or Haiss, Eenierside. He has now fulfilled the ancient tradition:

Betide, betide, whate'er betide, Haig shall bo Haig of Bemerside. . Amongst the contributors to a book on "Mountain Craft," shortly to bo published by Methuens,. whjch will contain descriptions of climbing experiences and Alpine -craft in various 'parts' of tho world, I notice the name of Mr. Malcolm Ross, who is'charged'with'tho New Zcaland;section. 1 ' Anion? new additions to thai: excellent little- Bories of 'reprints, "The World's Classics."- a'rn'twO old-established favourites. Borrow's " Wild .Wales" and Wilkio Collins's "Woman iri White." one of the best sensational novels ever written. Also I am glad to see the editors have included one of Herman Melville's less known se'a stories, "Moby Dick." which, I well remember the late Frank Bullon, when 'he visited -Wellington during hia lecturing tour, saying was the most realistic .and truthful description of itlio old-time Amerioan whaling industry to be found in ptint. Many readers who have enioyed Melville's stories of Polynesian life, "Typee" and "Oomoo," may have failed to come across "Mob» Dick." It is well worth rending.