BOOKS AND-AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 42, 12 November 1921, Page 11

BOOKS AND-AUTHORS.

(By

Liber.)

Give a man a pipe he can smoke, Give a man a book' he can read; And his home is bright with a calm delight Though the room be poor indeed. —Jambs Thomson.

BOOKS OF THE DAY i ' •' *—riH— Rut-and After. Tn. common, no doubt, with many of nly readers, I am inclined to regard the "latest war book” with a feeling of indifference, indeed, .almost repeil-arice. There nave been so many "war books*’ and so many of them have baen sadly negligible. But there are notable exceptions On© is Masefield’s "Gallipoli,” n secoiid is "The Road to En Dor," a third is Brett Young’s “Marching on Tanga.” To these 1 would add “The Secrets of a Kultite: ■ An... Authentic Story of Kut; Adventures in Captivity and Stamboul Intrigue" (John Lane, London). This book has a special interest for New Zealanders, in that it is the work of an ex-resident of Palmernton North,' Mr'. Mousley, who was afterwards a . master at an Auckland secondary school, and, when war broke but, ■was in India. He served at first' in France, and was then transferred to Mesopotamia... At Kut-el-Amara ho was captured with Townshend's force by the Turku, and, after various "locations," Found"himself in Constantinople. Mr. Mousley’s .account' pf the Mesopotamian campaign and the fall of Kut, and his -description of his experiences as a prisoner of war at Kastamunui, on the Black Sea, and, later, at Stamboul, are written in a very lively and engaging style. The author’s sense of humour is. responsible for certain parts of his narrative being exceptionally entertaining. The 'sterner.' sinister sido of warwar with, the Turk—also receives attention. Those who read this book, and it- is to be hoped they may bo many, will find in ita pages a very effective refutation of the curious old claim that the Turk is. a very decent fellow, a fair fighter, and a generous victor. The story 'of the horrible march of the captubed Kut garrison, as here told, should effectually dispel any such idea. 'Here, for Instance, is the author’s description of one of the many terrible experiences of Townshend’s officers and men:

We tingled with anger and shame at seeing on the other bank a, sad.- little column of British troops who had marchup from Kut being driven by a wild crowd of Kurdish horsemen, who brandished sticks and what looked like whips. The eyes of our men stared from white faces drawn long with the suffering of a too tardy death, and they held out their hands towards our boat. Ab they dragged one foot after another some fell, and those with the rearguard came in for blows from cudgels and sticks. I saw one Kurd strike a British soldier who was limping along. He reeled under the blows. We-shouted out. and if ever men felt like murdering their guards we did ... It seemed that half their number were a few miles .ahead, and the rest strewed the road to Kut. SoTno had been thrashed to death, some killed, and some robbed of, their kit and left to bo tortured by the Arabs. The horrors of the awful forced march of the British prisoners to Angora are set forth by Mr. Mousley. in almost repulsive detail. At one .place, Misibin, the prisoners came across a body of earlier captured Britons. This is how, they had been treated by, according to «ome writers, “the cktvaTfous Turk": They Were wasted to wreaths of skin hanging upon a bbno frqme. For tho most part they were' stark naked, except for a rag round thoir loins, their garments having been sold to buy food, bread, milk, , and medicine. Their eyes were white with the death hue. Ihoir sunken cheeks were covered with the unshaven growth of weeks. One had just died, and. two or three corpses had just been removed, the. Turkish*’ attendant,, no doubt, bavins heard of the approach of an officers’ column. But the corpses had laid there for days. t •

During th a trek northwards to Angora the British prisoners noted signs of what tho war had meant to the hapless Armenians.- On every side lay 'unburied ■ corpses, whilst large crowds of Greek peasants, including old women and children, wandered about homeless and starving, the Turks openly and cynically rejoicing -that%tho "Christian swine Were doomed to starvation and death. ■ Mi Mousley’s account of his. personal adventures' as a prisoner.: of- war at Constantinople, where he made a plucky but. unsuccessful attempt to escape, is .most, interesting. "The Secrets of a Kttttlte is essentially a book' to buy and care.fully preserve, rather than one- to be hastily read and discarded. It is that rara avis in war literature, a book to b bought "for keeps.” "SomeJUpects of Art Education.” "Some Aspects of Art Education” (Allen and Unwin) is a little book which "Liber” would like to see read-and its counsels taken to heart—by not a few people in Now Zealand who are interested in educational progress. lhe book, which is published “under the auspices of tho National Society of Art Masters,, consists of a number of essays on the teaching and encouragement generally of art. Amongst other subjects dealt- with are- "Art Instruction |a Elementary Schools,” "Tho Place Of Drawing and Art >n Education, ' Civic A rt, Ait Education for Industry,. .Possible Careers in Art,” _ "The Museum as a Factor. in. Education,. A Ministir of Art,” etc. In an- interesting I'oreword.” Sir James Yoxall pleads , tor the "brincih" back of art into the every day and usual life by correlating the inculcation of aesthetic taste with other forms of education.” "Tho permeation of the nation with art must,” he says begin from below if at all . ... the actual beginnings in each generation must arise in places of primary, preparatory,, .and secondary education, and that, as thin book will show, there is. need lor iyrther and more efficient organisation. it this can be written of the place of art in English education what about New Zealand? Good work is being done, no doubt, in our technical, schools, but thoso engaged in that work scarcely receive that official , and public encouragement which its value and importance deserve. This useful little book shows how such encouragement could and ought to-.be given- (N.Z. price 7s. 6d.) “Christ and Caesar.”

A new volume of "The Christian Revolution” series (London,. Allen and Unwin, the 'Swarthmore Press), is entitled "Christ and Caesar.” The authors are Professor Nathaniel Micklom, M.A., and ■Mr. Herbert Morgan, M.A., who explain that their book first discusses and criticises tho theories of tho social revolutionaries—in particular Karl Marx, Joseph Diotgcn, and Georges borel as representing in the clearest way the underlying notions of advanced Labour, and, second, tho ecclesiastical theory of social progress, as represented in the speeches and writings of the Bishop of Manchester. In the second part to which is given the heading, Constructive," tho authors examine various social and religious problems of the day, among others "National and Humanitv ” "The Individual and Society, "Tho Church and the Kingdom, and "Compromise and . Progress.. The "Caesar” of the title stands, so the authors explain, "is the short general title for the political organisation of human groups "We have called our book,” thew continue, Christ and Caesar,” not "Christ or Caesar be. cause, while we have maintained the position that the discipleship of Christ involves a following of His way without compromise and without tai tying for any, we have yet sought to appraise the real value, and even religious significance of "Caesar.” (N.Z. price . Bs. <•) The "New Era” Series.

Two recent additions to the interesting "New Era" series published by

Leonard! Parsons, ■ Ltd., are “Tho New Labour Outlook," by Robert Williams, a-well-known English labour leader, and “Breaking Point,” by Jeffery E. Jeffery.” Mr. Williams’s book deals with what the publishers call "the new orientation of tho aims of international labour.’’ Tho author discusses the acute world-need for increased output, hut maintains that "tho workers will consent to produce more only if and when they have assured themselves that by so doing they will immediately improve their oconomio status and ultimately establish a, new social order." Mr. Williams makes it clear in his final chapter that he sees-social salvation only in the Soviet system of workers, soldiers, and l peasants’ councils, a system which, "by factory and workshop representation goes right down to the roots of the capitalist system and destroys it at its foundations." Ho admits, however, That "before success is ultimately achieved mountains of. work will have to be accomplished.” Certainly, if the Russian precedent proves anything it proves that even "mountains of work’’—phis river's of blood!—have, in one Instance at least, been only productive of disastrous chaos. But it is just as well to know what tho Labour Extremist point of view is, and Mr. Williams’s book ‘ will no doubt find' many interested readers m this country. Mr Jeffery’s book, "Breaking Point, which has a "foreword” by that wellknown writer on sociological problems, Mr. G. D. Cole, starts off by an analysis of the present-day state of civilisation. The author takes a very pessimistic view of the social outlook, ana contends that a world-wide change in the conduct of human affairs is not only possible but imminent. Ho defends the . extremist as “the scout, the advanced patrol, of the army of pro•trress,’’’ "a man standing upon-tho summit of a hill and beckoning Encouragement to those still struggling on the slopes." To some of us, I fear, the extremist may seem to be far more a personified l will-of-the-wisp, leading men into a deadly morass! Mr. Jeffery 3 s evidently very much in earnest, but no offers very few practical suggestions as to how civilisation is to emerge safely from its .present "desperate straits. . He talks eloquently of “the ideal of service, and tells us that "it is within the power of the men and women who are alive to-day to make what would be the greatest revolution in the history of the world—a revolution of the human mind. But he never gets down to "dots,” as the Americans say. His 'book is interesting in a way, but not a little unsatisfying. (N.Z. price, 65.)

b , LIBER’S NOT?) BOOK For “the Kiddies.” If one wanted any proof that the Christmas season is now not very far distant, it could) bo found in the appear* ance in the bookshops of many books and booklets specially devised for juvenile entertainment. From Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch, como two caste-fully-produced booklets, "Tho Enchanted. Fish/’ by Harold Gaze, and "Teenywiggles," bv Isabel Maud Peacocke ; Both are of the "fairy story" class o< literature, and display no email gifts ot imaginative fancy and literary skill on the part of their repective authors. Both are liberally illustrated, in colour and black and white. Mr. Gaze is ins'own illustrator, whilst tho ‘ pictures which accompany Miss Peacock’s text are from tho graceful pencil and clever brush of a well-known young Wellington artist, Miss Gwyn noth Richardson. Tho colour printing reflects high credit upon. the publishers. The booklets will doubtless bo in strong demand) during the next few weeks. “The Wherefore and the Why.”

Under the title "The Wherefore and tho Why. Some New Rhymes for Old Children” (Methuen and Co.), have been collected a number of Mr. A. P. Herbert's versical and very comical contributions to the pages of "Punch. Why does tho glow-worn glow ? Why does the oyster make pearls? Why does the .grasshopper'tub its back lege together-. or doesn't it? These and similar natural history posers are solved by Mr. Herbert in tho light of a gay and sprightly humour. The author owns Ins reliance for his facts upon the encyclopaedia, but his humorous presentment of them is till his own, and is, it must be confessed by even tho most serious reader, most original and engaging. As, for example, the lines-whicl* Lewis Carroll himself could scarcely have bettered, on “The Oyster.”

The oyster takes no exercise.. I don’t believe she really tries, And. since she has no lees. I don’t seo why she should, do you. Besides she has a lot to ao She lays a million eggs; At any rate, she dofesn t stir. Iler food is always brought to hei. But sometimes through her open lips A horrid little . creature slips, Which simply w>U not go; ■ And that annoys the poor old girl. It means she has to make a pearl. It "irritates," you know. . So. crooning some small requiem, She turns the worm into a com. And when I meet the wives of earls With lovely neckla-ces of pearie. It makes me see quite re £». For every jiewel on the chain . Some patient oyster had a pain. And had-to go to bed. Just think what millions men can make Out of an oyster’s tummy-ache! . ■ Tho drawings by that inimitable 'graphic humourist, Mr. George Morrow, which illustrate Mr. Herbert’s verses, are almost excruciatingly 4 funny, veritable little masterpieces in black and white George Morland never drew a more con. vincing pig than Mr. Morrow's porkers, and his grasshoppers, spiders, and barnacles—fancy getting fun out of a barnacle—are equally delightful. A really funny book this. (N.Z. price 55.). Stray Leaves.

Tho report that this year’s Nobel prize for literature is to be accorded to Thomas Hardy has not, as yet, been corroborated. Hardy should have had the prize long ago. He is over eighty now, and probably does not care a dump whether he receives; the honour or not. Nevertheless, even at eighty, the little douceur of .18000 which accompanies tho distinction is not to bo despised. Marriott Watson’s death is reported from London. Ho was a Christchurch boy, who wont to England, and was fairiv successful as a journalist and novelist. Watson wrote for a timo for the long-defunct "National Review, what time that lively journal was edited by the late IV. E. Henley. Ho wrote some excellent short stories about highwaymen and eighteenth-century life. Ot late years ho had fallen a. little into the background'. Tho hist novel of his I read —I. forgot tho title —dealt with life at a trading station up tho. Amazon, and. was a very unsatisfying production. Ten now volumes nro shortly to be added to the famous "Everyman” Library. Of course, it is hopeless to expect' we shall ever got our “Everyman books at tho pre-war price ot a modest eighteen penco (Is. net was tho . Homo price), but if Mr. Dent could bring the present-day price down to a half-crown it would bo n great boon to tens of thousands of students and bookmen generally. John Galsworthy considers the Into Frank Norris’s "McTertgtie” as "one of the peaks of American fiction,” holding it to bo far superior to those much moro popular novels, "Iffie Octopus” and

"Tho Pit.” I wonder why Mr. Galsworthy does not mention Norris’s posthumous novel of 'Frisco life, “Vandover and tho Brute," a most powerful if rather horrible study in human decadence. Stevenson’s "Master of Ballantrae” has been translated into Swedish under the title of "Broderna” ("Tho _ Brothers"). One leading Stockholm critio is pleased' to say that ths trouble with the story is that "it never fills you with awo, it merely entertains,, it has no depth.” Commenting on this the “Now York Literary Review" asks: "What does Sweden want in a writer? The murky entanglements and mystic writings of- a Strindberg?" / : Japan seems to be as thickly "papered" as is Now Zealand. Eeforo the war there were 600 dailies, the number increasing in 1920 to 810. There are also no fewer than 1824 magazines. Most of the dailies keep a "prison editor" on the staff, who has tho unpleasant job of taking upon himself tho responsibility for any libellous or seditious article,!, and not infrequently goes to durance vile for a fow mouths. Tho salary drawn for such a dangerous job is not stated. 1 * ' ■

The new edition de luxe of Max Bt-er-bohm’s books has not yet been published, but is, I read, already oversubscribed. It would nof tempt me, dven could I afford it, to "scrap-heap" the little square, "dumpy"; volume, ironically called "Work's, ’’ which was followed by "More" and "Yet Again." The original editions fetch big prices, but the two first have recently been reissued by John Lane at five shillings each. They are desirable possessions for any one 'who enjoys ironic humour. ’ ■ Somerset Maughan; the novelist and playwright, whose "Moon and Sixpence” was such a queer but fascinating story, has been sojourning in the South Seas islands, and has written a novel, "The 'Trembling of a Leaf,” which deals with tho effect of a Polynesian environment on ths srhite man.

Th er' are, I know, a small band of discriminating readers who, like “Liber," swear by the engineer-author William McFee, -who wrote jhose remarkable novels, "Casuals of the Sea” and "Aliens;" and whose "Letters from An Ocean Tramp” is such a delightfully fresh and original book. McFee is, I notice, reprinting, under the title "An Engineer’s Noto Book," a number of essays and sketches which have appeared in tho New York "Bookman," the New York "Literacy Review,” 'and other periodicals. The book is first to be published by a New York firm, Frank Shay and Co. It is a pity these Americanpublished books—outside novels—come so dear by the time they reach New Zealand.

Stanley Paul and Co.’s autumn list includes, amongst other interesting announcements, the autobiography of the popular English clown, "Whimsical Walker,” the title being "From Sawdust to Windsor Castle," an English translation, "Fascinating Frenchwomen," of one of Brantome's most famous books: "A Guido to Success," by Lord Beaverbrook; and "The Underworld of Paris," by the Paris correspondent of tho “Daily Express." The same firm announce quite a number of new novels by popular authoi-s of the day. SOME RECENT FICTION "Lovers and Friends.” Mr. E. F. Benson, from whoso clever pen have come so many entertaining novels, is quite at his best in "Lovers and Friends" (T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.). His latest heroine, Celia Courthope, is a very charming young lady, the daughter of an utterly selfish and • conceited old gentleman who, long separated from a wealthy wife by whom he is made a ghPorous (allowance, is tho latter-day Beau Nash of .a fashionable watnringplaco. Celia / does not love Lord Mateham, whoris engaged .on "war work" at the Foreign Office, but is gradually worn down by his persistence and marries him. Tho pair get on well enough for a time, but the reappearance on the scene of an old friend of the wife s, "Vincent Douglas, a King’s Messenger, a masterful gentleman, begins to spell danger for the Matcham marriage. The husband idealises his wife, and, to tell the truth, bores her, good fellow that he is. There is some perilous philandering with the other man, but eventually the position is saved for Celia and her husband at least, by the King’s Messenger going down m a. submarined steamer whilst returning from a trip to Athens. The plot of the story is, however, not its. strongest point. It is in its pictures of social life, and more particularly by its character sketches—masof satire—of ■ Celia’s parents that it makes its chief appeal. The egregious Philip, with his sublime selfishness,. !his fatuous self-conceit, _ and his garrulous, inexpressibly silly wife —a'lat-ter-dav Mrs. Nickleby-are both excellent, Mr. Benson has never done better work than in these two amusing penportraits. A very pleasant and most amusing story. Mrs. Bindle.

Wo all know Bindle, Bindle tho blithe, tho 'buoyant, Bindie the occasionally bibulous and boisterous. But in the various Bindle stories which wo owe to Mr J Herbert Jenkins's humorous fancy and clever literary- craftsmanship Mr. Bindie's better half has been not a little-in the background. Now, however, in "Mrs. Bindle: Some Injmtauts from the Domestic Life of the Bindies (London, Herbert Jenkins, Ltd.), w make closer acquaintance with the hitherto somewhat shadowy Mrs. B. Wo are introduced to Mrs. Bindle, the proud entertainer- of the Alton Road Chapel Choir; to Mrs. B. as she presides over the Bindle mennge on. the weoxly washing day; of the same.lady ns a strikebreaker. as the organiser of a summer camp,' and in various other capacities. Bindle himself, of course, reappears, but in this particular Bindle book the grey mare is emphatically the better horse. Mr Jenkins'# stories may here and there suggest memories of Mr. W . D. Jacobs’s amusing yarns, and more than once we are reminded of certain Dickensian characters, but there is: no'denying -(Jie mirth-provoking quality of Mr. Jenkins’s sketches. Anyone who reads the i publisher-author s description of how t'he redoubtable Mrs. the aid of a niop, a piece' of stone.and a house-flannel-defendod her homo against the would-be tenant who invaded the sacred precincts of Number Seven, Fenton Street, and, incidentally, destroyed her much-cherished geraniums, and docs not fairly chortle with mirth, is to bo voted hopeless so far as an appreciation of farcical fun-making is concerned.

“Joab the Lover.” "Joab the Lover," by Dorota Flatau (Hutchinson and Co., per Whitcombs -ind Tombs) is a full-flavoured romance ot the later eigthronth century the hero being a young Highlander ot good family who, visiting a Spanish port, becomes enamoured of a gipsy e ” cl,ant Ef n \,f a embarks upon the perilous h*® « a “gentleman adventurer. I natlcni ea ‘ terprises on th/Spanish Main, and bloodthirsty encounters with rival bucean . s loom up prominently in tho story, which though told with commendable spirit is scarcely so convincing us it might be. Tho gipsy woman, Sanona is an incurably selfish creature, end it is difficult to understand the infatuation of her lover. An English man-of-war brings Joab’s adventures to an end but when apparently in full view of Execution Dock ho is saved from hanging bv the Prince Regent, who is appealed to by tho fascinating Sarionn. An exciting 'but rather crudely planned and carelessly written yarn.

“The Quest of Michael Harland.” Michael Harland, a young author, is in love with and engaged to tho lovely Elnino Loveday, "The Lady of the Guest.” Unfortunately, he meets with an accident whilst cycling, and loses his memory. Then, being an impressionable youn’ man, he becomes enamoured of

the fair Anthea Dalmain, whom he playfully calls "The Pisky Person,” +hc plays the violin divinely. He is getting along quite pleasantly with Anthea when he undergoes an operation and suddenly recovers his memory, whilst at tho same time losing all consciousness of what ho has done and said between the accident and tho trepanning. As is easily to be seen, here are all the elements of a very awkward situation for tho gentleman and the two ladies. As to tho final outcome of tho situation, which is everything lovers of sentiment would desire it to be, my readers may turn to an agreeably-written novel, “The Quest of Michael Harland," by Nora. Kent (Leonard Parsons, London). “Mac of Placid.”

When Robert Louis Stevenson returned with his wife to America he settled for a time at Saranac Lake, a health resort up in the picturesque wooded hill country of the Adirondacks. The novelist now appears as n character in a novel, "Mac of Placid,” by T. Morris Longstreeth (The Century Company, per Whit combo* nnd Tombs), in which, ho fimires as a kindly and much interested minor actor in a very pretty romance, the hero of which is a fine manly young backwoodsman, tho heroine an equally enraging, if unconventionally-minded., girl. Mr. Longstreeth’s story is well worth reading for its own sake, and the two chapters in which R.L.S. appears must mako it a welcome addition to Steven&oniana., "Musgrave’s Luck.”

The principal scenes of ‘Mr. Harold Bindloss’s latest story, "Musgrave’s Luck” (Ward, Lock, and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs), are laid in the Canary Islands, tho hero being a young English clerk who goes out to Las Palmas to act as super-cargo on a Spanishowned steamer trading with ports on the West African coast. The young) fellow finds himself engaged in a gun-running expedition, and involved in some very exciting and perilous adventures. He is however, well equipped with both brains and pluck, and not only secures a good position, but vins the heart , a very charming girl. Mr. Bindloss is at .his best when ho writes of the African coast, and African traders and their ways, and his latest yarn can be commended as a very lively and readable story. .

Reprints. . Cecil Adair’s highly sentimental stories, with their, suggestion of the old "Family Herald" style of novel-writing, must enjoy a widespread popularity, lor reprints of the earlier novels of this writer are constantly appearing. recent additions are “Under the Incense Tree," "The Sails of Life, and The Dean’s Daughter" (Stanley Paul and Co. per Whitcombe and Tombs). Iho volumes are printed in good large type and neatly bound in cloth. To tho large public which takes pleasure in sentimental fiction, these reprints, med at a very reasonable price (N.Z. price 35.), should be very welcome.

"The Book of All Power.” Mr. Edgar Wallace, who has given us bo many excellent yarns of West African life is scarcely at his best in Ins latest story, “The Book of All Power’ (Ward Lock, and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs). A young Englishman goes to Russia in the service of an oil company, and becomes involved in u scries of sensational experiences, operations and adventures. Bolshevik officials mid denizens of the Russian underworld are prominent in the story, which is possessed of a cheaply melodramatic flavour, and strikes "Liber” at least as being unworthy of Mr. Wallaces customanlj clever pen. ■ “The Strange Inheritance.” t Mr. Paul Trent, the ffuthor of “Tho Strange Inheritance" (Ward, Lock, and Co per Whitcombe and Tombs), lias a long iist of novels to his credit, but ne scarcely maintains in his latest story tho reputation he won by those fine novels, "The Foundling” and "Tainted Gold Both the plot and most of the leadiu,, characters arc decidedly stagey, and suggest that the story has been hurriedly and carelessly written. “Youth in Harley.”

Rural life in the New England States has al! the sedate restfulness and freedom from the sensational which is traXnully associated with life m English.village. Most American novel-, nt least most of thoso ' which come to Now Zealand, deal with tho Western States and by their highly colouied powerfully dramatic scenes tend to cream Fho impressibn that American country ~f e is very far from being restful. In “Youth in Harley” (Scribners Sons, per Whitcombe and Tombs), Mr Gordon Wall Gerould presents a series °i vely charming pieties of village hfo m -0 of the North-eastern States, lhe story sets forth tho romance of a young college graduate, Stephen Qmild, who goes o’toe village as a primary teaota. . very delightful young lady named Cynthia. Darrell. Tho story is ® ns characterisation, and , ag^ b ’ y J Able, affording New Ze<andcis P nnt and not uninstructivo insi»ht tlm everyday life of some old-foshioned but very worthy and likeable folk. “The Trumpet in tho Dust.” An En-lish novelist whose work io not I fata so well known to New Zea. fond readers as it deserves to be, is Miss Constance Holme, whoso "The Trumpet in tho Dust (M Boon per Whitcombs and Tombs) I have charwmnan. Old. age. approaches, and she joyfully welcomes the opportunity o lead M a restful, existence in one of tte local almshouses, the one ooking towards the marsh and the pa the clear blueness ot the bay. _ just 0 daughter'*' is dead Sh uttle ones being delivered into sucTVands moves her spite her weakness, resumes her work and-devotes herself to the cldl^ re "’ j.. feus self-sacrifice is hero set' j n delightful delicacy. "The .trumpet in the Dust,” for all its simple theme, is - veritable little masterpiece. “The Liquor Kinfl.”

According to a doctor who figures. prominently in Mr. F. Bancrofts story, "The Liquor King” (Hutchinson and Co.; por Whitaoir.be and Tombs), ooutli Africa "holds the highest record, in the world for convictions of intemperance and crimes out of intemperance. Although mot professedly a propaganda story, "Tho Liquor King” shows tho evif effects of excessive drinking upon both whites and blacks. It is ’nmmy concerned with the tragedy of I ii H- 1 Turnbull, the son of a South African brewer and distiller, and Philips wile. Base, who becomes a dipsomaniac, and meets with a terrible fate. As a study of a vitally-importnnt social problem bs it affects a community of mixed colour, tha story, which is powerfully written, ia of special interest.

“My South Sea Sweetheart.” Miss Beatrice Grimshaw, who specialises in books and novels dealing with life in tho South Sene, is ecai'ccly at her host in “My South Sea Sweetheart” (Hurst and Blackett; per Whitcompe mid Tombs). Dara Hamilton and Luko Ivory grow mi together on u Pacific island, where, with their elders. Nicy dwell in a wonderful eavo houso and livo tho simple primitive life. There is n child marriage—the bride is twelve and the bridegroom two years older-—follow-ed by five yeura' separation. Then ar-

fives on the scene' "the wickedest man in file Pacific,” one Captain Harry Eng land, who plots the kidnapping of tho lovely Darn, but is. duly thwarted by ’her now stalwart young hubby, aided by a faithful servant, who supplies some relieving low comedy. There are some exciting scenes in the story, including tho rescue of the fair Dara from a crowd of drunken cannibals, the redoubtable Hany losing his life in saving that of tho young lady. There is much picturesque' local Colour, and ihe story no doubt gratify those who hke thefr fiction to to ft mixture of the sensational and the sentimental.