Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 779, 27 September 1929, Page 16

Books Reviewed

THE LIVING PAST. MRS NAOMI MITCHISON’S skill in calling the past to life has been shown in that excellent novel of Caesar's Gaul, “The Conquered,” and in her scarcely less mo cessful stories of Athens and Sparta. She repeats her success in “Barbarian Stories,” which pass by giant leaps from the Early Bronze Age to the civilised barbarism of a not-far-off to-mor-row. when she describes the annual sacrifice of one of the Haves to appease the Have-nots. These striking stories very largely depend on Mrs Mitchison'S insistence that ancient peoples are simply ourselves, with differences that it is much easier to see and understand once the fundamental likeness is accepted. She drops all the old mystery-mongering and glam-our-seeking of historical writing; and she kicks away all the old stilts and props of antique diction. Perhaps she overdoes the method; but it is a good one, for all that. The finest example of it in this book is the story of the Roman tribune and his British slave, Rudd. Not a word in the story is a beggar for pity; the touch is firm and matter-of-fact. Yet its pathos is irresistible. Mrs Mitchison is not the only writer who can “leave it to the facts” in this manner—there is Ernest Hemingway, for instance; and there was Balzac before Hemingway, to remind us that the “modern” note is a good old note. But she does it very well. “Barbarian Stories.” Naomi Mitchison. Jonathan Cape. Our copy from the pubushers.

Heredity v. Environment Another stage of the age-old struggle,

Heredity versus Environment, is chronicled in this new book by E. Almaz Stout. The story is analytical to a high degree but is interesting, nevertheless, for the plot’s sake alone. The story of a young man’s plunge into vice and his redemption is told with restraint, and never shows signs of degenerating into mere sentimentality. The characters are well drawn and sharply marked. Gerald Napier, handsome, well-to-do, and rising in his profession, might be thought the ideal hero in the opening chapters. As the story unfolds, however, the reader is shown how lifts puritanical upbringing and lack of knowledge of affairs of the world, failed to provide him with the necessary stamina to withstand the shock when his highly-prized ideals proved false. “The Unpaid Debt.” E. Almaz Stout. Printed in London for G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Our copy from the publishers. “McLeod* of Avondale.” Tliere are few contemporary American novelists; with a more brilliant, more keenly analytical mind than Kate McLaurin (Mrs Frederick Calvin), whose marriage in 1913 closed a brief career on the dramxtic stage and opened a wider one fn literature. Her novel just published, “McLeod of Avondale,” reveals a directness of expression, a. charming simplicity of style, and an admirable gift for portraiture. Characters are etched with ; a peculiar vividness, the story of a doctor’s life In a small American community thus acquiring a strangely arresting quality. Nell McLeod is the wife of Dr McLeod., a surgeon of. ; considerable reputation. She is beautiful, but of ix shallow, impossibly possessive nature.- Her selfishness and absurdly petty jealousies not only jeopardise her husband's career, but alienate liis affection for her. The familiar domestic situation is created by the arrival of another woman; but there is nothing commonplace in Miss MeLaurin’s treatment of it. The instinct of the dramatir t ensures a satisfactory ending. “McLeod of Avondale.” Kate McLaurin. Medium. Our copy from the publisher*. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED i “ The Sunbeams Book.” —Coloured cartoons by J. C. Banks. Printed for I Sun Newspapers, Limited (Australia) by Mortons, Limited, Sydney. Poets ’ Corner ANDANTE (Written for THE SUN) All is a dream, fired With images of calm, storm, wind and snow; And all that is required Is to have done with fear. To fill the soul icith laughing peace, and know That the kind gods are near. ’ —GEOFFREY de MONTALK. Joubcrt Studios, Chelsea. BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION j “STRANGE MOON,” by T. S. Strib- . ling. "THE POWER OF THE HOG” by i Bonn Byrne. “FIRST QUARTER,” by S. P. B. ' Mats. “THE FIDDLER,” by S. G. Millin. “GOOD COMPANIONS ” by J. IS. Priestley. “HIMSELF AND MR. RAIKES,” by W. B. Maxwell. “TATTER'D LOVING,” by Phyllis Bottome. “THE MIDNIGHT BELL” by Patrick Hamilton. “THE SLEEPING FURY,” by Martin Armstrong. “SUSSEX GORSE,” by Slieila KayeSmith. MON FICTION “EXILED,” by John Galsworthy. “ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA,” by Knud Rasmussen. “WHITHER MANKIND,” edited by C. A. Beard. “MEMOIRS OF PRINCE MAX OF BADEN.” “THE LURE OF SPEED,” by 11. Segrave. “WHEN FUR WAS KING,” by 11. J. Moberly and W. B. Cameron. “PORTRAIT OF THE LABOUR PARTY,” E. Wertheimer. “THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER” by L. Brunning. “ELIZABETH AND ESSEX” by Lytton Strachey. “THE GENTLE ART OF SINGING,” by Sir Henry Wood. - "■‘"■l 1