Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 14

Books Reviewed

“The Ninth Cfrile." It was easy to picture the face of “Fate” Westward framed In a knightly helmet—the hood of his Arctic kooletak was distinctly like a helmet of that sort —and scarred weather-beaten, lonely, full of purpose, it was not difficult to picture its tall, broad-shouldered owner, from spur to plume a star of tournament, gracing the days of chivalry. He was from the county of Lotus eaters, yet bound in terrible exile to a rock at the end of the earth. Such was Westward, in charge of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment at Last Haven, the loneliest place on earth. He is one of the finely drawn characters in “The Ninth Circle,” a tense story of the Arctic, written by Harwood Steele. It is a true story, graphically told, and one which does fuller justice than most we have read to the great work of a great police organisation. “The Ninth Circle.” Harwood Steele. Hoddcr and Stoughton. Our copy from the publishers’ Australian representative. Songs From Scotland. Lady Ashmore’s “Songs of the Camerons and Other Poems” has no particular poetic value; but it will give readers who approach it in the right spirit no small pleasure. Her language is simple, but undistinguished; her metres are easy and turned to no rhythmical significance; but her subjects and the sincere sentiment which they stir in her will be enough, for many readers, to cover a great many defects. She can fall as flat as “And if at times to cheer we may seem slow The reason is not very far to seek,” or even flatter, as flat as the pointless rondeau called “In Nevis Glen”; but Scotch hearts will warm to the warmth of her Scottish patriotism and others, too, to sentiment more universal. But the expression of it is not poetry. •‘Songs of the Camerons and Other Poems.” Lady Ashmore. Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers’ Australian representative. A Good Novel Reissued. One of the novels many lovers of soundly designed and written fiction have kept on their shelves for re-read-ing, not once only but often, is Mrs R. S. Garnett’s “The Infamous John Friend.” It has psychological interest of an exceptional degree developed in a story full of movement and vitality. Mrs Garnett does not belong to that school which can only be subtle in a-test-tube’s stillness. She enjoys elbowzoom without becoming less precise than they. The writing is first-rate. “The Infamouo John Friend.’’ Mrs R. S. jiat*nett. Jonathan Cape: -The Travellers’ Library.- Our copy from the publisher. A Murder in a Mansion An intriguing mystery story—albeit a little protracted in the telling—comes from the pen of William Gillette. It has to do with a “hideous crime” perpetrated in the old Cripps mansion in Torrington Road, Boston. Who killed Michael Haworth? Seeing that there are so many murders in America, and that so few murderers are apprehended, it would be thought that the writing of a book on an assassination that was by no means spectacular would not be worth while. But there was a decided interest in the Haworth murder, more especially in the apparent lack of motive. Later the motive is revealed, but not until the most amazing threads have been followed and abandoned. “The Astounding Crime of Torrington Road.” Cassell and Co. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs. A Self-Heip Book In “Forging Ahead,” Arthur O Richardson, who has written several books on advertising, gives wholesome advice to those who wish to’ succeed in life. He quotes the examples of many notable men, but-perhaps the soundest chapter of the book is that which exhorts the ambitious to thoroughness. And the soundest sentence is not the author’s, but Dr. John Watson’s: “The reason why men fail is, in five cases out of six, not through want of influence or brains, but because they are slack; and the reason why certain men with few advantages succeed is that they are diligent, concentrated, persevering , and conscientious —because, in fact, they are thorough.” Yes; but it is not in the nature of many men to be thorough, nor could all the precept in the world make them so. Nevertheless, “Forging Ahead” is worth reading, if but for its brief glimpses into the lives of one or two great men. “Forging Ahead,” by Arthur O. Richardson. Cornstalk Publishing Co. Our copy from Angus and Robertson, Sydney.