MINOR WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 14

MINOR WORK

Rebecca West Attacks Galsworthy

M tilt the reputation of John tiulsworlhy at the peak, eft it is now, it is Interesting to read tl §e comment made upon him in relation t to his contemporaries by that rnerci critic, Rebecca West. She writes: in the American “Bookman,”

MISS WEST first of all laments the fact tha<; the pictures of D. H. Lawren te, whom she considers as one of /he greatest geniuses of his time, shc/ukl have been withdrawn from ex>ibition through “the idiocy of the permanent officialdom of England.’’ Then she goes on as follows: —“It teas the permanent officialdom of E tgland that was responsible for anotl»er comparatively recent affront to peijsons of culture: namely the award of the Order of Merit to •lohn Galsworthy. It should by right to have gone So either Bernard Shaw or H. G. Wellp. These are writers of artistic power greatly superior to Galsworthy, ami of infinitely greater importance to /heir time. The award to Shaw would have been enormously popular. I have recently had an insight int p the place he holds in the affections of the British public through the unimportant part I play in the directorship of “Time and Tide.” We have qrnly to publish an article by Shaw, “no matter on what subject, for our circulation, already healthy, to be Unmefdiately doubled. There is no

other writer who can do this. In fact, he has performed exactly the achievement of which the Order of Merit is supposed to be the recognition. He has put forward certain ideas and certain modes of thonght, and has proved their validity to the satisfaction of the people, who now employ them with the gratitude of those who find ihemselves presented with new and useful tools."

“To him rightfully belongs the honour; and had he refused the honour it should have gone to Wells. He too has performed that achievement. If one took a census among the young and middle-aged men who have reached positions of eminence in any department of life, and asked them what outhor has had the largest part in inspiring their minds in their exceptional courses, an overwhelming majority would give the name of H. G. Wells. “Henc« it is infuriating that when the Order of Merit is withheld from both the persons who deserved it, obviously for no other reason than that they were closely identified with radical movements displeasing to the permanent officials in whose hands, at the last resort, is the bestowal of such honours. There is no homage too great for Galsworthy as a man, but his work is minor. It is not profound, it copies the world rather than gives an interpretative vision of it. The precise function of “The Forsyte Saga” was historical: it recorded the moment when the middle classes of England, although their wealth and power were founded on capitalism, found themselves forced by their sternly cultivated honesty to admit that there was a great deal of Justice in the criticisms made by the intellectuals on the effects of that system upon human happiness. But once he had finished that particular job (which, one hastens to acknowledge, was a burdensome one exquisitely performed) his intellect was not sufficiently powerful nor his Insight into the souls of men profound enough for him to find another subject."

first holder, presumably, will be Mr. Hugh Walpole, who seems to have j written more glowing introductions 1 and discovered more genius in the writings of others than any of our contemporary men of letters. But Mr. A. A. Milne would surely be iu line for the position by virtue of the grace of his introductory efforts. Theee are grouped in one section of a new book of essays “By Way of Introduction,” in which we are asked to meet Fougasse, Saki, Mr. Milne’s own Mr. Shepard and others. We read here Milne’s amusing introduction to the musical version of “The King’s Breakfast,” in which, the Grumphiter School of Thought and the Cadwallader School expound their views on a much-vexed subject: Why did the Alderney cow in the poem think of going to bed at breakfast-time? There is Mr. Milne’s usual quota of essays, never less than bright, in one of which he explains a theory that he once held about Good King Wenceslas. It appears that Wenceslas or Wenceslaus should have been spelt Wenceclaus, that there were two brothers, Santa and Wence Claus, and that Santa delivered (he presents at Christmas while Wence called round on Boxing Day to see that no mistakes had been made. That, of course, belongs to Mr. Milne’s own particular realm of nonsense and no one can quite approach him in it. “By Way of Introduction.” Methuen and Co.. London. Our copy from the publishers. Broadsheets The first “Book of Broadsheets,” published last year, contained a selection made by Mr. Geoffrey Dawson, editor of “The Times,” from the printed sheets, each containing some literary gem, that were broadcast in hundreds of thousands to the troops on the war fronts. A second anthology has been issued. It includes poems by Wordsworth, Herrick, Kipling, Julian Grenfell, Binyon, Chester•ton . . . selections from the Bible, from “Romeo and Juliet,” “Tristram Shandy,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “Some Experiences of an Irish R.M.,” Bunyan s Trial of Faithful” ... Savoy Songs by Sir W. S. Gilbert . . . Pliny, Charles Darwin, Captain Marryat, Mandeville, Burns, Scott, George Meredith, Marvell, Dr. Johnson, Lamb, Tennyson, Kingsley, Matthew Arnold . . . these names indicate the reading (hat has been selected to adorn the pages of the “Second Book of Broadsheets.” -i t '.T he Sec ? ,Kl Book of Broadsheets.” -Jethuen and (Jo., Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers. Martial Distractions More whimsical tales from “Punch” appear in “Livestock in Barracks,” in which Anthony Armstrong, well known in the pages of “Punch” as “A.A.,” publishes a collection of his laughable yarns. They all concern soldiers and they all concern animals. From the monkey smuggled into barracks, by Private Rifle, to Elspeth, the elephant that formed an attachment for Lieutenant Holster, and Rupert, the Baloo-bear, each of these military distractions contains a laugh Mr. Armstrong writes with the lightness and grace familiar to all “Punch” readers, and those who do not know his humour can be recommended cordially to make its acquaintance.

“Livestock in Barracks,” bv Anthonv Armstrong. Published by Methuen and lish’ers.° ndon ' ° Ur COpy from the PUb-

“The Runaway Princess.”

The latest book of a successful New Zealand authoress has for its scene the North Island of the early colonists. A pakeha child is kidnapped by Te Huia, a rebellious young Maori chieftain. Years later nothing has been heard of the girl, and her two brothers set out in a final desperate attempt to find her. Their journey through t.ie bush makes exciting reading and is capped by the discovery of their sister and their escape from the secret mountain pa of Te Huia. “The Runaway Princess,” is Isabel M. Peaeocke’s latest story for youngsters. In it she reveals, once more, her ability to write books that are ideal for children—packed with adventure and narrated with skill and occasional deft touches of humour. Here and there—for instance, when the two young: heroes have their first glimpse of the sea—are passages that would grace any book; and there are many fine descriptions Of the New Zealand bush. “Tile Runaway Princess,” by Isabel M. Peacocke. Ward, Locke and Company, Limited.

Tales of the Green Tables

Mr. Riso Levi, whose excellent articles on billiards in the sports section of The Sun have been read with interest by students of the fascinating game, has written some worth-while short stories with a billiards interest. Many of these stories in “The Lighter Side of Billiards,” are obviously based on personal experience in a lifetime devoted to the game. The tale of the black cat that was the reincarnation of a former champion is just one of the good things to be found in this volume when billiards lovers have put away their favourite cues and are sitting down to think about the wonderful breaks they might have made. “The Lighter Side of Billiards,” by Riso_ Levi. Published by Riso Levi, Limited, Manchester. Our copy from the author and publisher.

P. C. Wren’s Latest.

it appears that the wages of chivalry, and not merely of sin, is the Foreign Legion. One assumes, of course, that Mr P. G. Wren is authoritative on the subject of the Legion. His public by this time is surely entitled to do that. However, it is not quite true to suggest that Mr Wren’s new novel, “Soldiers of j Misfortune,” is a story of the Legion. In the main it is a story of prize-fight-ing, and when Mr Wren eventually and inevitably gets his trio into the Legion aIL of their fighting is done with gloves on. Otho Belleme, the Beau Geste of this tale, lives to learn that the way of the chivalrous and romantic is apt to be even harder than that of the transgressor. It is a wholesome story of high-spirited, quixotic youth, with many ring fights, described with gusto. Followers of “the noble art” should find it entirely to their liking. “Soldiers of Misfortune.” P. C. Wren. John Murray, London. Our copy from Robertson and Mullens, Ltd., Melbourne. Well Mixed. The Forlorn Mermaid could only have come out of America. We have put away the childish things of sentiment, but there they still have appetite for youth and love, with an occa- j sional artistic death-bed scene, and the Mermaid contains all the ingredients for a successful mixing. There are the college youth and his brother, “somewhat monastic, shadowed and strictur.ed by austere, archaic thought”; there is Emily, the elder sister, round about the fateful augle of 29 who mothers all and rathers wearies of well-doing; there is Miss Minot, French, with all that implies in this simple setting; there is Unkie, who sailed the seas long ago; and lastly there is Dagny, the Forlorn Mermaid, moving with a certain exquisite elusiveness through the tale, and finishing “a quiet little figure, with a pale golden braid lying across her breast., wrapped in the tranquillity of death.” From the sky rocket affection of Ben for Miss Minot, and the hopeless passion of the Mermaid for Alec the student, is woven a quiet story, delicately told, and set among gardens and down by the sea. “Tlie Porlorn Mermaid.” Louise B. Peoiiie. .Tarrolds, London. Our copy from the publisher.Betty Knell “For one so young, Miss Knell shows a wonderful versatility. . . . First books of poems are usually painful affairs for their compilers, in later life, but Miss Knell need never fear to look back on this small volume.” So writes Mr. Pat Lawlor, Miss Knell’s literary godfather, in an introduction to “As the Story Goes,” a collection of the verse of Betty Knell. Sun readers, however, will need no introduction to Miss Knell, who won our poetry competition last year, with “Yesterday,” vers libre that had an amaranthine charm. In case there were those who held that only rhymed forms should be given

prizes we included in that Christmas Number Miss ’Knell’s “Evolution,” a very striking contribution. “Gipsy Born,” also in this collection, first appeared on The Bookman’s Page. Miss Knell has contributed to many publications in Australia and New Zealand since then. More will be heard of her work, for she is developing her gifts. It is unlikely that she will, as so many young poetesses do, cease to write after her first burst of song. Miss Knell has good reason to be pleased with her first book. “As the Story Goes,” New Century Press (N.Z.), Limited, 14 Panama Street, Wellington. Our copy from the publishers.

Romance and Revolt

Politics may have been improved by the election of Mr. John Buchan as a member of the House of Commons, but a political life does not appear to have effected a marked improvement in his work as a novelist. Iu his latest story, “The Courts of the Morning,” the creator of “Greenmantle” and other tales of adventure iu which favourite characters such as Richard Hannay, Mr. Blenkiron and Sandy Arbuthnot revel in thrilling exploits, lias failed to give ail that his readers have learnt to expect from his pen. The plot is more intricate and involved than a political manifesto. There is a wicked man in South America trying to undermine the foundations of civilisation by a cruel process of drugging his workers in rich copper mines, in order to destroy their humanity and compel them to provide him with wealth enough to rearrange the whole world. Sandy Arbuthnot and a British M.P. discover the dastardly plot, and set out to save civilisation from a terrible menace. The idea is fantastic, but that may be overlooked because of the manner in which the archplotter is captured and made the leader of a revolution against his own poisonous revolt. So, there is no lack of situations and that continuity of excitement which enables Mr. Buchan to carry his readers over gaps in his plot. And there are in plenty the old traditions of romance, chivalry, risks and rescues. But a brilliant M.P. ought to have done better with a political story.

“The Courts of the Morning.” by John Buchan. Hodder and Stoughton. London. Our copy from the publishers.

Potted Biography

Potted biographies which occupy four rhymed lines, and contain the most grotesque flights of fancy, offer endless fun to those who write them and those who read them. In “More Biography,” Mr. E. Clerihew Bentley presents us with an amusing series of these jingles. illustrated by himself, Victor Reinganum, Nicholas Bentley and our old friend G. K. Chesterton, whose illustrations for some of Mr. Belloc’s books have shown us that he can be droll in more directions than one. The method of “potting” is simple. Think of a. name! Milton. What rhymes with Milton? Stilton. Voild! Mr. Milton ate too much cheese: The digestion of Milton Was unequal to Stilton. He was only feeling' so-so When he wrote II Penseroso. That, of course, is taking liberties with History. There is no evidence before us that Mr. Milton preferred Stilton to Gorgonzola and nothing to show, for that matter, that Savonarola declined -to wear a bowler or that Browning saved a debutante from drowning, only to be asked what he meant “by that stuff about good news from Ghent.” But it is a pleasing pastime making free in this fashion with the Truly Great. And when illustrators have been co-opted to picture for us Mr. Milton in the final stage of remorse which seizes all cheese-gourmands and Mr. Browning, immaculate, though drenched, supporting a swooning beautj r , the joyous game is in full swing. “More Biography.” Methuen and Co., London Our copy from the publishers.