LITERACY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 32, 7 February 1931, Page 21

LITERACY NOTES

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

The latest choice of the English Book Society when the last mail left London was Henry Handel Richardson's trilogy, "The Fortunes of Richard Makony." i ■;

A reviewer in "The Times Literary Supplement takes exception to "a deck of cards" as an Americanism. As a matter of fact the expression was used by Shakcspearo in the third part of Henry VI., act v., scene i., line 4AI A statue in. memory of d'Artagnan, the hero of Dumas's novel "The Three Musketeers," is to bo unveiled at a fete in the spring at the village of Aucti, Gascony. Dunias's d'Artagnan was drawn from a real Gascon soldier, Count Charles d'Artagnan, who was a captain in Louis XlV.'s musketeers.

"A good bookseller," says Mr. Frank Swinnerton iv an article iv "London Mercury," . . . "can even' correct a customer who has wrongly seized a title. Customers are often wrong. And at least one bookseller in the history of civilisation has guessed at once What was meant when a customer demanded a copy of "Less Miserable,' by Victoria Hogg."

A suggestion that the poet laureate adopt a broad sombrero and a flowing cloak as his official garb is mado by the "Tailor and Cutter" (London), which criticises Mr. Masofield for wearing at the exhibition of Persian art an overcoat which showed signs of wear and tear. The writer added: "There are certain privileges and duties of the poet laureate. Why should he not have a uniform?"

Madame de Pompadour's copy of Homer fetched £147 at the recent sale of the late Lord Birkenhead's library. A set of Djckens first editions was sold for 150 guineas and a collection of Goldsmith's works for 100 guineas. Most of Lord Birkenhead's books were beautifully bound. If they had been in their original covers many of them would have fetched much higher prices.

Sax Rohmer, who is the author of many • mystery novels and tlio creator of Fu Mancbu, familiar to "film fans," complains that a report has been circulated to the effect' that his real name is Arthur S. Ward. He states emphatically that his name is not, and never, has been,. Arthur S. Ward. Can it be that his nauio really is Sax Kohiner? It is a good name, and other good names have been real; for instance, Rider Haggard. .'" ,

In "The Lifo and Death of Roger Casement,'.' Mr. Denis Gwyiin accused Scotland Yard of having secretly circulated an alleged diary of Casement's in order to frustrate f« reprieve. Mr. Gvvynu challenges the genuineness of this diary, and the question lists been discussed in English newspapers. Scotland Yard officials maintain that tho diary was actually his. Mention has been made in the discussion of a former book—Peter G. Gates's "Tho Truth About Roger Casement"—■ which was withdrawn before publication under the threat of a prosecution.It is'iiow stated that it was,withdrawn because the publication of cvertain- material it contained would ha.TO been an offence under the Official Secrets Act.