MR. LEE ON SHERWOOD ANDERSON

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 121, 12 August 1927, Page 12

MR. LEE ON SHERWOOD ANDERSON

We have l-eceived the following lettei- from Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., on an article by “R.J.8.” which appeared in last week’s Book Page: Sir, — In your issue of August 5 in writing a review of one of Mrs. Devanny's books, manages to say, “She has, too the same vast lack of humour that marks other of the sexual specialists like D. H Lawrence and Sherwood Anderson." Surely “R.J.8." knows little of Sherwood Anderson, recipient of the Dial prize, and acknowledged great man of letters, even by his enemies, who are legion. The reader who could read Anderson’s “Storytellers’ “The Triumph of the Egg” and “Winesburg,” and fail to

discern humour lacks discernment. As for D. H. Lawrence, I must confess to lack of acquaintance and I shall not deny any reference to Mrs. Devanny’s new book, as I have not read it, though I shall, for what is of New Zealand interests me as it evidently did “R.J.8.,” unless he read her book to order. To your readers who desire to enjoy a splendid book in the best class I would recommend Sherwood Anderson’s “Storytellers’ Story.’’ JOHN A. LEE.

BOOKS REVIEWED. THE IRON DUKE. The duke of Wellington belongs to that class of greal men whose greatness is all the more impressive because there is nothing in them of wild romance. They are the plain men. who only escape being solidly commonplace by being solidly great- Wellington had in him a simplicity which was sometimes nearly stupid. He was in many ways like Addison’s Sir Roger de Coverley: Read the essay on Sir Roger at church, and then think of Wellington’s standing up and looking about him to see who was there, of his answering the clergyman’s “Let us pray" with a benign “By all means”, , . . There is in a newly published volume of Wei lington’s letters—written, during the last two years of his life, to Lady Salisbury—abundant and delightfu evidence of the humdrum, gre; worsted qualities of Napoleon’s con quer'or. There is, of course, much, more; but this is the side of him least often turned to the world and most illuminating, as well as most pleasant, to view. “Great care," says the Duke, “must be taken of Sackville’c food, and not to put him to slqep on a full stomach. . . Of course, you must find it difficult to prevent him from eating. He is a coaxing little fellow whom everyone must desire to please. But unfortunately it must be done for some time longer till he outgrows the tendency to convulsions.” He is full pf h'ints on diet and the avoidance of catching cold, cheerfully gets Lady S. “some of the Cambrick” of which she had sent him patterns, and at a concert attentively provides the Queen, who has a cold and runs short of handkerchiefs, with one, then another, and at last a third of his own. He sends a machine called a Jump Baby, or Baby Jumper, a “deiightful instrument,” with directions that it is to be “screwed into the ceiling of the Nursery by .a screw attached to the Hook by which it will hang”; but he has grave doubts about the security of this screw, and proposes that Lord Salisbury, or the House Carpenter, should thoroughly test it. A little later ho is rejoiced by news that the Baby Jumper is amusing the children, but “I entreat you not to forget the warning I gave you .especting the fastening to the Ceiling of the Room. . . .” The Iron Duke was at this time a very old man, and the burdens of the State still rested on his massive, patient shoulders. “A Great Man’s Friendship: Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Mary, Marchioness of Salisbury.” Edited by Lady Burfihclere. John Murray. “Quicksands” Here is a heroine who (thanks be!) is not of surpassing beauty. “Dike most of the notorious sirens of history,” remarks her creator, “she was nothing of the kind.” She had good points—neat hands and feet, a slim yet rounded figure, provocative, small nose, fresh, rather freckled skin and good teeth. But her looks were more piquant than pretty. She is first unveiled to the readers as a flapper, and an extremely precocious one at that. Pauline laboured under the belief that she had married the wrong man, and soon we find her in the arms of another. . . . “And his kisses on her mouth seemed the end of a journey.” Well, it was a journey’s end that wasn’t at all worth while—for she found later that she didn’t love her lover. And in the end, back with her husband, there is “an overwhelming repentance, a deep maternal love, and gratitude to the man “before her for Ills trust, blindness and the opportunity he unwittingly gave her, mingled together In the kiss she pressed on his lips.” Need we say more? “Quicksands,” E. Wynne-Tyson. W. Collins, Sons and Co., Ltd. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs. Saying It With Axes Nil is a. mighty hunter before the gods. For the love of the very primitive but very beautiful Nat-ul, he does deeds which only men of iron muscle and elastic sinew could do For Nat-ul, daughter of old Tha, is a wondrous creature, who will mate with none save he who proves the mightiest of hunters. Mammoth tigers, cave-bears and other beasts go down before the stone axe and spear of Nu—and as for enemies of the lesser, human variety the doughty fellow can

account for them in bundles of six. It is a weird romance by an imaginative writer, and at least offers us a departure from the beaten track. "The Eternal Love," Edgar Rice Burroughs, Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Our copy direct from the publishers. Sritish-Israelism. We have received a copy of “The Enduring Empire of the British,” which is “an account of the remark able unconscious testimony of several Historians never before used in Bri tish-Israel evidence, which is shown to exactly fit in with the picture Scripture draws of the Scattered, Out cast. Wandering, Lost Ten Tribes oi Israel led to the British Isles, and destined to ultimately become a bles sing to the whole world.” Those who are interested in the British-Israel theory will be interested to know that the book has been published. “The Enduring Empire of the British.*’ The Rev. P. H. Pritchett. IX Mackintosh, Christchurch- Our copy from the author.