BOOKS REVIEWED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 73, 17 June 1927, Page 14

BOOKS REVIEWED

TURGENEV TJERE we have a splendid biography 11 of Turgenev by Avrahrn Yarmolinsky, a gifted and witty writer who has collected much hitherto-unpub-lished data concerning the ife, the methods and the sources of inspiration of this great Russian. Of particular Interest are those passages dealing with Turgenev’s relations with that extraordinary and brilliant eccentric, his mother; his consuming passion for Mme. Garcia, the opera singer, and his casual amours and their fruits. Turgenev was a chronic victim of wanderlust. Germany was his second fatherland and France his adoptive home (although his sentiments were not exactly filial!). He had a warm regard for England; was a keen student of Shakespeare and delighted in Dickens. The catholicity of his reading may be gathered from his desire to Introduce Robert Burns to the Russians! Browning, whom he met in Scotland, bored him.

A degree was conferred upon Tifrgenev by the University of Oxford and, at the time, reference was made to “the wonderful genius which was shown in his description of Russian life and which had led to the emancipation of the serfs.” There was some doubt about the propriety of entertaining a man who had written a biting article on Oueen Victoria and her pro-Turkish policy under the title “Croquet at Windsor” —but the desire to pay him tribute conquered rloubt. To Turgenev’s house, which he described as neutral ground, came all the writers—Sologub, Botkin. Ostrovsky, Druzhinin, Grigorovich, Tolsro.and Goncharov, the author of “Oblomov,” whose historic quarrel with Turgenev, over a charge of plagiarism, is amusingly told. Turgenev was an ardent admirer of Gogol. His admiration, indeed, as expressed in a published obituary notice, resulted in the emperor ordering for him a month’s gaol and an indefinite period of police surveillance; a sentence that was not without its alleviations as the biographer shows: For one thing he could not. complain of solitude. The narrow street on which the gaol looked out was jammed with the carriages of his visitors. For a whole fortnight his name was declined tirelessly in the drawing-rooms of the capital. A middle-aged female admirer sent him an icon and some soda-powders. Young girls with husbands in their pretty heads were at pains to walk past his window and favoured him with pressed flowers sewn upon pale blue notepaper. His dinners came regularly from Mme. Panayev’s kitchen. He did not go dry, either, and, after 20 years, he was able to regale his Parisian friends with the story of how the police captain, drunk oh his prisoner's excellent champagne, nudged his elbow and lifto.j Ins own glass with a husky: "To Robespierre!” M. Yarmolinsky is to be congrntulated on writing so diverting and interesting a book, which bis publishers have produced and illustrated excellently. ■Tnrgeppv The Man. TT«s and His Aee." Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London and Aus’ra’ia. Our cony comes from the publisher’s Sydney representative. Mr. Haroun Platt “Haroun of London” is the title of Katherine Tynan's newest novel. Haroun, who is a rich man, a Mr. Platt, believes in doing good by stealth. His benefactions are many and all are executed in the name of some legendary principal to whom dozens of unfortunates owe an astonishingly large debt of gratitude. Romance is very dear to the heart of Mr. Platt and he obtains his share of it in this vicarious fashion. Katherine Tynan’s novel is one of the easv-to-read-ln-one-sitting variety. It will mightily please those who believe that Arabian Nights and Knights are not yet things of the past and that djinns (as distinct from gins; may be lurking round the corner of the street. One is pleased to note that Mr. Platt, on his death, received a very fine obituary notice in “The Times. He deserved it! ’ “Haroun of London.* Collins, Sons and Co.. Ltd., London. Whitcombs and Tombs. Ltd.. Auckland. The House of Happiness and Other Stories By Ethel Dell (Cassel and Co., London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney.) THE FIRST TALE— Now “Little Anne” she did her sister dift And beat it with the handsome Cap. Hubert. But what good came of it at last? Well after 60 years had past They made it up—save dashing Hughie ( \frho caught a knife out East of Suez. THE SECOND — Shandy took a shop-girl sailing (With a Yo, heave Ho!) He was a vei'y upright man (Cut out, you “Spicy Story” fan!) Shandy didn’t leave her wailing . - . (With a Yo. etc.). THE THIRD — Sally served a drink with grace — Right in Farmer Elliott's face. “I’ll put the damsel in her place” Said Farmer Elliott (and he did). THE FOURTH— Greater love than Steve’s for Janet Exists not elsewhere in this planet. If husbands followed his advice 1 ’d have no fear of decrees nisi. ENVOI — Well well, well well; Dear Ethel Dell! A Brilliant Novel Maxim Gorki has chosen inspissated gloom as the atmosphere for his novel “Decadence," which traces the family history of the Artamanovs —covering half a century of transition and culminating in Red Revolution. A mighty canvas this, and most graphically treated by the greatest of modern Russian writers. Gorki’s Pyotr Artamanov, who dominates the book, is alone a magnificent example of the analytical and creative power of the writer. The reader cannot but be stirred by this succession of misfor-

tunes narrated with a force and Intensity that makes the work of some of our moderns look decidedly bloodless. Like most of the novels of Russia, by Russians, the tale is set in the plaintive minor key that has always a peculiar fascination for English readers. “Decadence,” Maxim Gorki. Cassell and Co., Ltd., London. Our copy comes direct from the publishers. To Hang, or Not to Hang? As late as 1780, felling a tree, robbing a rabbit-warren, and associating with gipsies were offences that might be punishable by hanging. The barbarity of such sentences has since been realised and it is argued by the author of “Capital Punishment” that the death sentence, ultimately, will be abolished; that the black cap of the judge and the white cap of the condemned will one day be found only in some museum of horrors. Whether this comes to pass or not, the fact remains that Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, Uruguay. Venezuela, some of the American States, and Queensland have decreed that no death penalty shall be imposed. Mr. E. Roy Colvert presents a thoughtful case for the abolition of hanging. He has gathered data from many sources and presents his facts lucidly. A foreword is supplied by Lord Buckmaster, who holds that the death penalty “fails utterly in its purpose.” The book carries a striking jacket designed by Frank Brangwyn. “Capital Punishment.” G. P. Putnam’s Sons Ltd., London. Our copy comes direct from the publishers. Sir Isaac Newton To coincide with the bicentenary of the death of Sir Isaac Newton who paved the way for modern scientific research and was, according to his biographer, not only the great experimentalist, mathematician, theorist and writer that we know him to have been, but also “a practical national bene-; factor, a kind and appreciative supporter of merit and ability, a model relation to the members of his family, an example of unerring rectitude and an abhorrer of all vice and of cruelty to man and beast.” Newton’s lines were cast in pleasant places. He had many friends at Court. King William 111. was his admirer and Anne and her good-natjired consort, George, were keenly interested in his researches. The author seeks to present an outline of Newton’s life and his contributions to human knowledge in an easy manner “for schoolboys and schoolgirls as well as children of a larger growth”; to offer them an insight into the achievements of England's greatest man of science. That he will interest readers is unquestioned but there will be many, in the first and second categories mentioned within the quotation marks, who will not subscribe to the claim that “the binomial theorem is full of romance; it throbs with human interest!” “Sir Isaac Newton.” By R. Brodetsky Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Our copy comes direct from the publishers. Let go Man put Asunder The book is a signpost by the way. It is a strong, poignant tale, squarely and fairly facing the problems of marriage. divorce, and illegitimacy from the church’s point of view. “Jim” Counihan, a priest, finds that notwithstanding his teaching and training human nature beats him; and the

book throbs with the spiritual agony of Charlie and Maisie, two black sheep living for love, without the church’s sanction, first roundly condemned, then tolerated, then copied by the priest himself. Strong work, well told, nothing humorous. Thousands of women will read it and weep “I Pronounce Them.” G. A. StuddertKennedy (“Woodbine Willie”). Hodder and Stoughton. Our copy from the publishers’ Australian representative.