BOOKS REVIEWED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 245, 6 January 1928, Page 14

BOOKS REVIEWED

HITCHENS AT HIS BEST First and last Robert Hitchens is a story-teller—one of the few really good ones left. He has no vague message, he does not attempt to be smart, his people are human beings (though occasionally terribly theatrical) and he uses the simple narrative form In writing his books. “The Bacchante and the N'un,” the latest to drip from Mr. Hitchens’s ceaseless pen, is much better than its title suggests, though

the title, we feel sure, must have helped the sales with its hint of Bacchanalian revels and the quiet of the convent. Mr. Hitchens takes us into theatreland. behind the scenes, and gives us some remarkably vivid pictures of stage folk, producers and playwrights. His central figures are wonderfully drawn and his conversation Sows on without effort and quite natural iy. Valin tine Morris, an unknown actress made famous by the playwright, Martin Dale, is torn be-

tween two desires —one for the publicity, the glitter and the homage which follow the flight of a 3tage star;

the other for a life of religious seclusion. Mr. Hitchens handles his theme exceptionally well, occasionally taking flights to bis beloved Egypt and to Monte Carlo, and Indulging his fancy in the colours of the East. "The Bacchante and the Nun.’* Our copy cornea direct from the publishers, Methuen and Co., London. For Writers and Artists The first edition of “The Australian and New Zealand Writers' and Artists’ Year Book” has arrived from Australia. It has been edited and compiled by Messrs. C. V. Ringstad and W. E. Fitz Henry, and should prove of great value to those who have “wares” to sell and desire to find the best literary market. The Year Book, which is in a handy form and very reasonably priced, contains a list of 500 Australian and New Zealand papers which accept contributions. It sets out editors’ individual requirements and rates of payment. In add* tion, there are lists of book publishers repertory theatre societies, broadcasting companies and film producers a glossary of typographical terms and useful hints on proof reading. In an article on “Free Lance Conditions in New Zealand,” complimentary reference is made to the encouragement given to New Zealand writers by THE SUN. “The A. and N.Z. Writers' and Artists' Year Book, 1928.” Our copy from the publisher. Box 2876 N, G.P.0., Sydney. “ ... Of It* Kind” One of these days a novel will be written in which the strong, silent man and the beautiful adventuress (or the blonde ingenue) do NOT fall in love with one another, but until that highly improbable event takes place, the reading public will continue to be mildly intrigued by stories which have been used since the novel was in its boyhood. “A Bird of Strange Plumage” (the beautiful adventuress plays the lead) breaks no new ground, but the authoress has contrived to fracture at least one of the accepted canons of this class of story by killing off the adventuress-heroine, just as she has seen the error of her ways and *3 prepared to give up “the old life” for her lover’s sake. “A Bird of Strange Plumage.” Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers. “Cinders” Cinders was a “slavey,” whose only friend in the cheap London boardinghouse in which she toiled was an aged professor. By the peculiar provisions of the will of a peculiar lady, the pro fessor inherits a fashionable Continental hotel, and Cinders runs away with him—purely in the character of an adopted daughter, though, of course, she meets her hero, and it is more than amazing how quickly her speech and manners improve so that in the course of a few months she has qualified for description as “a member of the younger dancing set.” It is an incredible tale, but there 13 quiet (and sometimes unintentional) humour in it, and the professor is a well-drawn character. “Cinders,” by Fred Wright and Margot Folliot. Cornstalk Publishing Company, Sydney. Our copy from Angus and Robertson.

A Conscientious Young Man Robin Dalrymple had coming to him a large share in the a grandfather, vho had been noted for his wealth and piety. Robin discovered that the money was “tainted”; that that pious old man had been a sweater of the worst type, and his cotton mills

had thrived on the misery of hl3 employees. Therefore he refused to accept his inheritance, leaving it in the hands of an aunt, already rich, who had fewer scruples. It did not occur to the young man that he might use his fortune to establish or forward good works. He decided to become a missionary in China: and this was quite approved of by Nancy, the (as usual) sweet, beautiful and guileless girl who consented to marry him, despite the surrender of his fortune. However, the wolf is not to bark at the door cf the mission station, for a friendly elderly man most obligingly dies and leaves Robin an estate. And this man, who has been living quite handy under an assumed name, is the younger uncle of Robin! Likewise he is a man of the same strict conscience for in his youth he had disagreed with his father's method of making money by means of sweated labour and departed for America, where he made a fortune for himself. An innocuous tale. “Sunlight and Salt,” by Jean Oliver Riddell. Hodder and Stoughton, London. Our copy from, the Sydney agents. De la Haute Volee, “The Top Drawer” is a clever piece of comic satire. It is introduced as tha recollections of one “accustomed to consort with the great and to avoid aa far possible those unfortunate, and usually offensive, persons who constitute the great mas a of humanity.” The writer hates a snob, nobody, in fact, hates and despises a snob aa he does, which accounts for hk finding it one of the most pulling act* <*f a beneficent Creator that he should ever hr.ve allowed the middle classes to come into existence. Equally he detesta scandal and gossip. . . .

Her Grace possessed a marvellous Persian cat, with fur which was of a wondrous mauve pink, like the colour of the ro3es of Jericho. This cat she kept at her magnificent mansion in London, which was just of? Berkeley Square. Every day she ordered a supply ot cat’s-meat for her favourite, personally, through the telephone Now one day she went te telephone when the cat happened to be in the room with her, and having rung up the number of the cat’s-meat man, she got into communication with him .... “Please send round at once to my house three pennyworth of cat’s-meat for my Persian.” The cat’s-meat man promised to comply with her Grace’s request, and the Duchess rang off. But a moment later the cat’s-meat man was again summoned to the telephone, and again it was the Duchess of U. speaking. This is what she said: “I wisn to countermand tne three pennyworth of cat’s-meat I ordered from you. There’s no need for it now My Persian’s pest caught a mouse.” This Is a*' sample; and the author’s longer and more elaborate inventions do him greater credit. It i* a well-sustained piece of sharpedged humour. “The Top Dts. •r.'* Bv Who lOfefl BgrnJjj iL ** A Mighty Force When a mad genius invents the most destructive invisible ray yet known, bestows upon himself the title of King of the World, and commences destroying valuable documents, burning out dogs' hearts and drying up fluids, all from a secret lair at a distance —things begin to be decidedly interesting. This is the theme of “King of the World,” a weird enough tale, full of horrid possibilities. An

amateur detective, working anonyi mously, picks up the threads of the • mystery and leads a search party to l where the madman works the machine which sends out the devastating rays. But for a thoughtful person who cuts the electric wires leading into the lair there would not have been more than a whiff of smoke left of the party, for the madman has his finger on the button of obliteration. A bullet ends the monarchy of the King of the World, and an axe demolishes the invention. “King of the World,” by Guy Morton; Hodder and Stoughton, London. Our copy from the publishers. Books Received "Sons of the South” is a little book of verse by Mrs. Kathleen S. Lamb, written “in memory of a lad that’s gone.” A slim little volume, it contains a number of verses that are gracious and thoughtful. A little garland plucked from the garden of a sympathetic ■woman. (Unity Press, Ltd., Auckland.) Fifth Year Book of the International Federation of Trade Unions, 1927. Parr 11. Reports of the National Centres and of the International Trade Secretariats for the years 1925 and 1926. Published in Amsterdam. “Historic Kawau”: “Gold and silver of noonday, lapis lazuli of sea, ruby of sunrise, amethyst of sundown, topaz of stars glimmering like moidores m the deep blue of a midnight sky—it is no visionary El Dorado that will take me back to Kawau.” Thus writes Mona Tracy in an illustrated brochure descriptive of the charm of Auckland’s j historic pleasure-isle—Kawau. It is I an excellent pen-picture of a fascinating resort. (Simpson & Williams, Ltd., Christchurch. 40 pp.) 1