BOOK NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 52, 29 January 1938, Page 7

BOOK NOTES

QUEEN’S FOLLY. Some houses have definite personalities of their own. A house with a history such as was attached to “Queen’s Folly” could not fail to have both personality and atmosphere, and it is of this that Elswyth Thane writes in her new book. Before Queen’s Folly became the property of Anthony Brand in 1553 it had stood in dignified decay on its Worcestershire hillside. As a priory it had shared the fate of many of the monasteries during the reign of Henry the Eighth. When Edward the Sixth was dying, Anthony carried an urgent message to his sister, Elizabeth. Eight years later, when Elizabeth mounted the throne, she had reason to remember the messenger. To prove the reality of her gratitude for his devotion she gave Anthony the old priory, and a chest of golden pieces with which to restore it. And beenuse Anthony had lost his heart to the young Queen, he craved her portrait as his only reward. This, too, was granted him, and he built his home around the picture of his Queen and, as she bade him, he called the place “Queen’s Folly.” The story of the gradual restoration and improvement of this delightful Tudor seat from that time to the present is told with simplicity and charm. Miss Thane has entered into the spirit of tlie house and tells of the succeeding generations with great sympathy and insight. Because Anthony died abroad his ghost returned to haunt. Queen’s Folly. A friendly ghost, but an undeniable presence. His son carried on the traditions which he had so firmly established, and through the troublous times of war between King and Parliament a Brand still remained faithful to the monarchy. A Royalist Brand gave his name to the man who went to the Great War and returned to an impoverished estate. The depression forced this later Peregrine to employ endless shifts in order to keep Queen’s Folly from going the way of so many historical roof-trees. Only a happy chance and the courage of a wealthy young woman saved the famous portrait from a trans-Atlantic millionaire, and the reader is permitted a heartening glimpse of a happier future for the gracious dwelling on the last page.

STORIES OF IRELAND.

Considerably varied in theme and treatment are Sean O’Faolain’s latest stories, published under the title of “A Purse of Coppers.” There is, in fact, enough variety in this volume to . provide at least one good story for the literary dilettante of any shade of opinion or prejudice; the average reader of taste will find in it quite a lot of interest. The fourteen items making up the book vary from sketch to short story proper; all are written in a delicate, yet sinewy style, which, however slight the subject matter, is sufficient to hold the interest. As reflections of Irish life and outlook, all are highly illuminating. With workmanship uniformly good, the selection of the best in a collection of this nature'will naturally vary according to individual taste. “Sinners,” a story of the confessional, has a poignant, human quality, and is particularly effective in what it leaves unsaid. But the most moving of all fourteen is “Kitty the Wren,” the story of a French sailor, who, landing at a small Irish seaport, bicycles twenty miles to court Kitty the Wren,, only to be abashed, on meeting her, by the girl’s inherent goodness and tragic loneliness. The most moving part of the story is the end, when it transpires that this patently good person is debarred from all contacts outside her brother. “A Born Genius” is am excellent study of frustrated artistic ambitions, while “Sullivan’s Trousers” goes to the other extreme; it is a fine piece of satirical comedy. As a eross r section of post-revolutionary Irish life. “A Purse of Coppers” is comprehensive and enjoyable. MORE ABOUT MCGLUSKY. “McGlusky, Empire Builder,” a father instalment of the well-known McGlusky saga, gives further news of that stalwart adventurer. The author, the late Mr A. G. Hnles, has hatched a plot which gives full scope to his flair for yarn-spinning of the open-air, highadventure brand. The gallant ScottisliAustralian, his burr in no way diminished since we last met him, having collected a very considerable fortune, decides to expend it upon a national welfare scheme. Acting through his faithful henchman. Terry. O’Brien. McGlusky purchased, fitted, and provisioned the fine old clipper ship, Pride of Scotia. Then, manning her with a curious collection of men—exgaolbirds of every possible description—he set off for the South Seas.

McGlusky, fired with a fine enthusiasm, trained his “underdogs” in every conceivable branch of useful employment. He had had his ship fitted for this purpose, and by the time his captain navigated him into the estuary of the Congo, hoth officers and men were ready to obey their lender’s lightest command. Their adventures with the Belgians and Portuguese afforded them plenty of excitement and considerable profit. Thence they sailed round to Madagascar and ventually to the pearl fisheries on the Western Australian coast. Hre the intensely patriotic McGlusky had a brush with the Japanese. This, however, was a mere preliminary to the subsequent clash with the enterprising representatives of that land-hungry nation. The planting of the Union Jack on a hitherto unknown, but remarkably valuable island, brings the tale of a thrilling climax, and wo take leave of the hero in the full flush of triumphant victory.