f Bocks Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 921, 14 March 1930, Page 14

f Bocks Reviewed

“ EPHESIAN ” Some years ago Miss Tallulah Bankhead orf the English stage made a gallant effort to popularise the Bible by appearing in a stimulating play entitled “Fotiphar’s Wife”—a much-mod-ernised version of the story of Joseph. The good work ihas now been carried on by Mr. C. E. Bechhofer Roberts, some time notorious as “Ephesian,” with his book, "The Coat of Many Colours.” “Tallulah’s” effort was plain sex comedy—that is, bedroom farce, usually, though not this time, adapted

from the French—but “Ephesian” has gone further. Not content with farce, he has hopped over the footlights and galloped off to the nearest circus. Perhaps, though, that is an injustice. It may be that by a daring piece of social archaeology he has traced a connection between ancient Egypt and the modern Dnited States of America. Granting the circus plea to be unjust, that is the only explanation of his book. How eise is it possible to accept a Pharaoh who talks and behaves like a compound of the theatrical Eastern tyrant, and the lowest type of American captain of industry; Hebrews who speak, think and gesture as though they were rehearsing the parts of Scotsmen for a vaudeville show; Egyptian women, who represent a troupe of musical comedy chorines? In the end, one supposes, the book is really a genuine attempt to picture Joseph and his times, but one remembers with regret the late Rider Haggard. Though he was often historically inaccurate one was in Egypt, or, at least, in some splendidly coloured country with a river and pyramids that should have been Egypt, when one read “Cleopatra,” “Heart of the World” or “The World’s Desire.” Probably he could write those pleasant tales because he never took them really seriously. That, perhaps, is where “Ephesian” has failed—if, of course, he w’as serious, and there seems little hope that he was not. Though mildly excited by the idea of tho handsome young Hebrews Joseph, among all those beautiful Egyptian women, he resolutely puts it behind him and, bitten by a lesser “bug” than that which inspired Andrd Maurois to write “Ariel” and “Disraeli,” he has tried to give a psychological account of Joseph and his rise to power, and an historical account of the Egypt of his •time. Not, apparently,a brilliant psychologist, nor blest with a fertile imagination, “Ephesiam”has failed. The book, in spite of the aims set out in an appendix, which contains also a list of authorities, does not rise above the type described as “a good book to read in the train or while on a holiday.”

“The Coat of Many Colours,” by “Ephesian,” C. E. Bechhofer Roberts. Published by John Lane, The Bodley Head, Limited. Our copy from the publishers.

A Wandering New Zealander.

Knocking about the world, Bertram R. Bunny, member of a well-known Masterton family, gathered a rich variety of experience, but not much financial profit. He sailed the Seven Seas in various capacities, and his shore life in his wanderings was spent in many occupations. He even became a “sourdough” on the Yukon in the “wide-open” days of over a score of years ago. In time, he felt the urge to write his reminiscences. Criticism of his book is rather dis* armed by the fact that he did not live to revise it before publication, and his relatives preferred to issue his manuscript as it had been left by him. It is apparent that he was better as a marine engineer than as a writer. But “A Rolling Stone,” as the book is entitled, is an interesting record of the wanderings of a New Zealander in far places. “A Rolling Stone: Personal Reminiscences.” Bertram R. Bunny. Robertson and Mullens, Ltd., Melbourne. Our copy from the publishers. After Working Hours To Hodder and Stoughton’s capital People’s Library has-now been added a collection of essays by its editor, Mr. Sidney Dark. Most of the essays, titled, for no particular reason, “After Working Hours,” appeared originally in “T.P.’s Weekly,” and now that that admirable little publication has ceased to be, it is well that some permanent record of Mr. Dark’s urbane philosophy should be available. These essays eschew tricks of style and “wise crack” humour of any sort, but they are -well written and have a human warmth and sympathy. “Concerning e playing of games,” the essayist 1 >s some sound observations to make and his decision that, after mild cross-country walking, the best form of exercise for the average man

is back-garden lawn tennis, will find general support among the many exponents of that pleasant and sociable pastime. “After Working Hours.”—Collected essays, by Sydney Dark. Published by Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers’ Sydney representative, Mr. w. S. Smart. Pythagoras Mellowed If the success of a neat little book, “The Great Mathematicians,” depended on the regard of the average man for Pythagoras’s theorem about the right-angled triangle, then that publication must perish while yet damp from the press. To the general reader a book on ancients (and some moderns) who combined to terrorise his schooldays, might seem repugnant. But not so Professor H. W. Turnbull’s treatise. He introduces one mercifully to the whole gallery of mathematical luminaries. Their frowning portraits are made to smile. One meets in turn the geniuses of the Greek, French and English schools. The book is informative and readable.

The Great Mathematicians,” by Professor H. W. Turnbull, Regius Professor of Mathematics in the University of St Andrews. Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers. Old New Orleans. A vivid and convincing, though sometimes repulsive picture of life in the New Orleans of many years ago is presented in Edward Larocque Tinker’s book “Toueoutou.” The central figure is a beautiful young girl, who, nicknamed Toueoutou, despite her upbringing by a mulatto woman, is convinced that she is of pure white extraction. And that meant every thing in those days, when the colour bar was a cruelly rigid one, and the smallest drop of black blood represented all the difference between social equality with the ruling classes of the city, and contempt and calumny, and ostracism to the ranks of the mongrel : types that formed the lower strata of the population. Toueoutou loves and is loved by a pure white Creole boy, whom she marries. But her parentage is ques tioned and eventually she becomes the butt of the whole city, scorned bj’those among whom she had sought to ■ take an equal place, and hated by the coloured classes, who are jealous that : one whom they believe to be like ! themselves in parentage, should conj sider herself too good for them. The story is a cruel one, but it is beautiful in its pathos, and it is full of very real human interest. The de scriptlon of old New Orleans, with its heterogeneous population and its ugly class distinctions and laws is very fine. The opening chapters which describe the ravages of a terrible plague in the abominably-governed city are masterpieces of macabre writing, but the book is prevented from ever becoming over-sordid by many intimate touches of romance and heroism. “Toueoutou.” Edward Larocque Tinker. Nash and Grayson. Our copy from Wliit"oinbe and Tombs, Ltd. Once On A Time In spite of the pessimists. few children ar e so sophisticated that they have lost the taste for “Once Upon a Time,” and Miss Romer Wilson knows how to cater for them. She has given us “Green Magic”; now comes the companion volume, “Silver Magic.” This is, in truth, a web woven from the strands of faerie, each story a masterpiece of folk-lore handed down for generations. The author has gone to the four corners of Europe for her inspiration, and included in the collection are gems ranging from “The Broken Pitcher” to the old tale of “Beauty and. the Beast.” It is not j every writer who has magic at her command; Miss Romer Wilson not only possesses the gift, but is able to pass on something of what she has visioned. “Silver Maffic." Romer Wilson. Jonathan Cape, Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Stead’s.—March number. Contributors include Tristan Buesst, J. PI. McColl, Dr. James Booth, Leslie M. Henderand L. C. Legge-Wilkinson. Articles: “Two Troublous Questions of the Sea,” “The Village of More than a Million,” “The Commonwealth and the Coal Crisis,” “Who are tho Present Generation?” "Could Tasmania Secede?” and others.

BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION “SHEPHERDS IN SACKCLOTH,” by Sheila Kaye Smith. ' “MEDAL WITHOUT BAR,” by R Blaker. “THE LACQUER LADY,” by F. Tennyson Jesse. “THE METHODIST FAUN,” by Anne Parrish. “BEYOND THE SWAMPS ,” by R. Tarnacre. “FAR WANDERING MEN,” by J. Russell. “MARGARET DASHWOOD,” by Mrs. Francis Brown. “VIENNESE MEDLEY,” by E. O’Shaughnessy. “DUSTY ANSWER,” by R. Lehmann. “CLAYHANGER,” by - Arnold Bennett. NON-FICTION “THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SUPER-TRAMP,” by W. 11. Davies “THE SOCIAL GOOD,” by E. J. Urwick. “AVIATION AND ALL ABOUT IT," by A. F. Collins. “ALICE MEYNELL," by Viola Meynell. “ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL,” by E. M. Forster. “BIRD LIFE ON ISLAND AND SHORE.” by H. Guthrie-Smith. “FAMOUS TRIALS OF HISTORY,” by Rt. Hon. the Earl of Birkenhead. “CONTEMPORARY BRITISH COMPOSERS,” by J. Holbrooke. “OUT OF THE CRUCIBLE,” by H Chilvers. “SYBIL THORNDIKE,” by R. Thorndike.