Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 833, 29 November 1929, Page 16

Books Reviewed

BRILLIANT SHORT STORIES THERE are two Marjorie Bowens, ■*• one who reconstructs history so brilliantly and another who occasionally writes for us short stories that have a quality that ranks them high among the best productions in this difficult literary field. It is the second Miss Bowen who presents us with "Sheep's Head and Babylon”—tales that rival Fannie Hurst's short stories for ingenuity of construction but which leave that brilliant American far behind so far as restraint is concerned. The story from which the book takes its title revolves round the temptation of the Rev. Zachary Barlas and tells how he cast forth Satan only to be undone by him, the Evil One having taken, for this great occasion, the form of an obscenelooking sheep’s head. The tale belongs to the section headed "Stories of Yesterday.” These are set for the most part in France. “The Folding Doors,” a drama of Paris in the days following the execution of Louis Capet has a Grand Guignol flavour. “The Necromancers" is a quaint study of a Spanish cheater who was cheated: "The Pond,” a psychological portrait of an unpleasant maiden lady and “The Triumph of Mrs. Westfield” a prettily- j told romance with the sweetness of rosemary clinging to it. “Tales of Today” include “Crowd —With Flags,” In which the ghosts of past indiscretions rear their heads, and “The Wall,” a powerful story of two women who : waited —and were disillusioned: told! with a simplicity and force that are j worthy of de Maupassant. There are j 18 short stories in the collection, and at least 15 of them are perfect little cameos. Miss Bowen’s gift of colouring rich historical tapestries has brought her a vast popularity. Her mastery of the short story should place her among the most versatile writers of today. "Sheep’s Head and Babylon.” John Lane, the Bodley Head, Ltd.,* London, j Our copy from the publishers. Patriotic Murderer In a business office beside a returned soldiers’ club a wealthy man is mur- j dered. His is one of several deaths ! and in each case the victim is a per- , sonage who benefited financially, and i unfairly, front the Great War. Special! detectives investigate and form the j conclusion that "The Wraith,” an in-, sane officer whose self-appointed task j is to rid Dngland of profiteers, has : returned to tfontiuue his killings. Thus 1 is the stage prepared for “Betrayal,” j an exciting mystery story with a political setting and a Scotlard Yard background. Sequels are sometimes j sickly reflections of an original idea, but A. E. and H. C. Walter have followed “The Patriot” with a readable tale, neatly conceived and well told. “The Wraith” pursues his patriotic, if illegal, career in dramatic circumstances, and his final unmasking provides a chapter of pure excitement. "Betrayal,” by A. E. and H. C. Walter. Methuen and Company, Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers. The Arch-Plotter The Baron Kolar had a castle in Styria, a grim mountain fortress as eerie in its way as that of the Count Dracula. From this St.yrian fastness he conducted his machinations for the overthrow of Christianity and the churches of the world. That is a theme, surely, that from the outset would cause most novelists to pause. But a difficult task of this kind is the

. delight of Mr. M. P. Shiel and his j vivid imagination and his flair for bizarrerie have enabled him to make from it a tale almost as thrilling as | "The Purple Cloud.” It was written in 1906, and has been reissued by the House of Goliancz which is doing so much to popularise Mr. Shiel s work. Count Dracula. being a vampire, loved to drink blood. There is nothing so crude about Baron Kolar, whose refined cruelty leans toward crucifixions, each so planned as to convey the impression of a miracle: the ultimate object being the exposure of the I church as party to such deception. The intricacies of the plot need not be set forth here. It is filled with thrilling incident that leaves one rather breathless and, to say the least, amazed at Mr. Shiel’s fertility. The wonder is that he has had to wait so long for his richly-deserved fame as a weaver of fantastic tales. What were the Edwardians thinking of? "The Last Miracle.” Victor Goliancz, Ltd., 14 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London. Our copy from the publishers. Wisdom and Beauty. There are signs of reviving interest in the work of Alice Meynell, and the publication of the pious biography I written by her daughter Viola will stimulate the merited revival. There was a time when the name of Alice Meynell meant a good deal more than it does now. and after all, her works deserve attention. During her life she had as her literary admirers critics of such authority as George Meredith and Coventry Patmore, and her ultimate place among the women writers of England is assured. A service to her reputation long delayed, is the publication of her general essays in easily accessible form. This has been done in the-Travellers’ Library under the title of “Wayfaring,” and the book, besides the delight that it gives in itself—should turn many to the rest of her work. A fastidious artist, every sentence that she wrote was clear and glistening, and Meredith was right when he described her contributions to the “Pall Mall Gazette” as “princely journalism.” It is these essays, written to meet the rapacious demands of journalism, that are reprinted in “Wayfaring,” and through them a reader is able to have full sight of a fine woman’s soul, and the subtle beaut 7 of great literary art. She says enough, but never too much on any subject, therefore she does not weary any reader; that which she writes could be expressed in no better way, therefore she gives pleasure to the literary epicure, and even so, the common reader has his joy from her because she is simple, thoughtful, ar-’ informative. These essays oeve: wide range of subjects, and although there is a plenitude of alluring quotations to be made, one only shall be chosen, and that at random. The essayist is describing a river in winter: Pure from the refuse and regrets that encumbered the autumn, clean of memories, the strong and delicate winter woods are brown upon many a fold of the doubled and redoubled hills of a western river. Slireds and patches of corrupt colour had hung torn about their tops, old fleeces from the green multitudes oi flocks that went this way, until a December tempest, with the level trumpets of an early Florentine “Last Judgment,” shook them oIT. A fresh and warlike gale from the north turned the page of the year in a night. In addition to these essays of starry beauty is a small selection of the best of Mrs Meynell’s verse. The excellent Travellers’ Library has offered nothing better than this book.

“Wayfaring.” Alice Meynell. The Travellers’ Library. Jonathan Cape. Our copy from the publishers.

“All Sorts of Dogs” Bright entertaining stories, which must have an irresistible appeal to all lovers of dogs, go to make up Rowland Johns’s latest work, “All Sorts of Dogs.” Tales of canine intelligence drawn from all parts of the world are told round the fireside of a quaint dog club formed in an English village, two of the principal characters being a mariner and a retired medical man, both old globe trotters of a most attractive type. A slight touch of romance running through the book helps to make up a very interesting volume. There is humour as well as dramatic power ill the many delightful stories of dogs. “All Sorts of Dogs.” Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers.