NEW BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 24334, 24 October 1942, Page 3

NEW BOOKS

A MONUMENTAL WORK AUSTRALIAN WAR HISTORY At the end of the Great War of 1914-18 the Government of Australia determined that the deeds of its country’s sons, as far as written records, at any vale, could perpetuate them, should not be forgotten by succeeding generations, So thoroughly lias tbo official history of Australia in the war of 1914-18 been recorded that the final volume, 23 years after the writing of the history was begun, has Just recently been published, and represents the completion of a work , which has no parallel in any of the belligerent countries. The official historian w.js Dr C. K. W. Bean, an Australian journalist, and of 1116*12 bulky volumes which comprise the history ho wrote six himself and edited and coordinated the rest—a total job of 4,000,000 words, spread ever 25 years. The volumes deal with Gallipoli, the campaign in Sinai and Palestine, the operations of the Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps, the occupation of Rabaul, Hie war effort in Australia, and the main part of llie history dealing with the A.I.F. in France. There is also one volume which is a complete photographic record of the war. The task given to Dr Bean, or Captain Bean, as he was known to the A.1.F., was one winch would have broken the will, capacity, and health of many lesser men. The greatness of his work, a saga of epic dimensions, lies net only ni the completeness ot a narrative presenting endless difficulties in its compilation, and orderly correlation, but in (be lucidity of the recital of baffling incidents, the high aim in ttfc search for impartiality when handling bitterly controversial decisions and arguments, and in the vast quantity of hitherto unpublished data. Every page of Dr Bead’s work renews witness to his meticulous care in investigation and documentation. Unlike most official histories, DrBean’s is never dull. Australia has been supremely fortunate, 100, in that the official historian has brought to his work a literary style and a power of vivid analysis and description which it may be said without flattery, place him in the ranks of the great historians. Future generations may read these books, quite apart from patriotic motives, for their admirable prose, instinct with heroic poetry. Our copy of the finai volume of the history comes from the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. It deals with many of the most dramatic incidents of the wav, leading up to the groat and victorious Allied offensive which broke (lie German army—an offensive in which Australian troops played an important part. At llie present time, when Britain and her Allies are on the eve of another great offensive to win the Second World War, the narrative should be of particular interest. The book includes no fewer than 530 iilustralions and maps. The price is 21s, the publishers being Messrs Angus and Robertson Ltd.

In our leading columns reference has been made to ‘ The Institutional Care of Dependent Children in New Zealand,’ by Mr H. E. Mathew, published under the'auspices of the Educational Research Council. The survey of Protestant orphanages has been very thoroughly made, as will be gathered from these chapter headings:— Historical background; standards and objectives; litesf buildings, and equipment; administration, finance, staffing, and inspection; admission and discharge; physical care; social life education, and recreation. No investigator in New Zealand could have been more qualified for his task, and a most useful piece of research has been presented. Whitcombs and Tombs Ltd., printers. Price 6s. The Educational Research Council also publishes ‘ Education in New Zealand Museums, an Account of Experiments Assisted by the Carnegie Corporation of New York,’ prepared by H. C. McQueen. The study traverses the working of the schools service in the four metropolitan museums, the system of exchange displays among eight museums, film lessons and similar courses, with consideration of the methods worked out as the result of experiments in different environments. The volume is profusely illustrated. Whitcombe and Tombs, printers. 3s 6d. In ‘ Red Clark Takes a Hand ’ Gordon Young, popular author of Western novels, does full justice to LI le striking character ho created in the early days of his career as a writer. In his latest adventures the hard-riding, straight shooting “ Red ” wipes off an old score against the men who 15 years previously had killed his sheriff father. In many other ways the hero also succeeds in doing good week on behalf of those of his fellow-men who deserve it, and altogether his deeds provide much colour iu a story which naturally lends itself to brisk action. The book is published by Messrs Hutchinson Ltd.