Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 29

Books Reviewed

SCHLUMP GOES SOLDIERING. BOOMED as all war books are boomed for the present, “Schlump,” the story of an unknown soldier, is better than most, but there is no reason why it should have future value other than that which it may gain as a personal record of stirring times. These books, so much in favour now, are symptoms of a growing international distaste of war, and they are intended to be tragic propagandist chronicles. The weakness of them all is that they are written too much from the personal standpoint. The real tragedy of th e war was not so much what happened in the space of the four harrowing years, but that such a clash was inevitable in modern times. This was the tragedy, but the war writers have not yet seen the point. British and German authors are writing books almost identical in style and structure, and the Germans .are following each other like sheep in the hope of gaining a little of the fame that came to Remarque. "Schlump” tells us no more and no less than was told in “All Quiet,” but. it is a more cheerful book. The young soldier whose venturings it records has the fat as ■well as the lean of service. He had his spell in the front line. He was wounded twice, and at the age of 17 he found himself in complete charge of an occupied French village. This was his first soft job, but he managed to secure one or two others before peace brought him finally to the arms of his gentle Johanna. Schlump had singular amorous fortune right through the war, and had he died, he would' have had the satisfaction of knowing that he had lived well. He ; loved prodigiously; he fought well when the time came; he made money when he had the chance. To him came the sweets as well as the bitterness of war. No details are omitted from the book, and yet there is nothing in it that would give offence to ariv but the unreasonably squeamish. The author is anonymous, and perhaps he has good reason to remain so if the episode of the forged paper money is a fact. Maurice Samuel’s transiation gives the novel a completely satisfactory English form. “Sci lump." Anonymous. Marlin Sreker. Our copy from Robertson and Mullens, Ltd.. Melbourne. “The Early Canterbury Runs” For many years a process has been going on whereby the local histories of the various districts and provinces of New Zealand are gradually being compiled, documented and ordered by writers possessing close personal knowledge of their subject. The latest addition to this steadily growing library is “The Early Canterbury Runs.” by Mr. L. G. D. Acland, who for many years has managed his own station lands in Canterbury. Mr. Acland describes the history of each station in the whole area south of the Hurunui River to the Orari River and from there along the coast as far as the Waitaki. From the day when the land was first taken up until the

present these histories are related, with the names of owners and the legends (if 50-year-old stories may hold that name) that have grown up about them. Taken as a whole, the book, with its collection of English place and family-names, is final evidence of the essentially English character of the Canterbury settlement, and, apart from its exact historical data concerning the runs in particular, it is a valuable commentary on the history of the settlement in general. As far as the history of Canterbury is concerned the book covers a period beginning about ten years before the arrival of £he First Four Ships in 1852 and coming up to present days. By the end of the first ten years after the arrival of the ships more than three-quarters of the runs had been taken up and the 25 years following were the hei’day of run-holding in the province. Begun near the end of last century, a process of cutting-up is still continuing, with the result that some of the old runs have ceased to exist altogether, most have shrunk to small areas round the original homesteads, and only a few exist in anything like their early shape. An interesting point which the map showing the boundaries of the runs demonstrates is that many of them have given their names to townships, railway stations, or even country “pubs.” For example, we find near where the son of the bishop, a man educated at. Oxford, took up land, such fine classical names as Moun-t Algidus and Acheron, while the names of former stations have been taken by such townships as Dunsandel, Mount Somers, Albury, Harewood, Ashburton and Alford. The book is well produced and is thoroughly indexed. An excellent map, detachable from the volume itself, is provided. “The Early Canterbury Runs,” by 1,. G. r>. Acland. Published in Christchurch by Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited. In Red Pepper’s Footsteps Mrs. Grace Richmond, who won fame and perhaps fortune with her “Red Pepper Purns” series, has done better work plan “The Listening Post,” one of her latest products. The method of introducing the characters with a kind of “dramatis personae” in the opening of the book does not seem altogether successful. It is a laborious business turning hack to this reference every time the purpose or identity of a character becomes obscure. “The Listening- Post,” by Grace Richmond. Published by Methuen and Co Our copy from the publishers. Simple Sentiment Those who require simple sentiment as the principal ingredient in their fiction will have little fault to find with “Spring Comes Again,” a slender romance from the pen of April Thorn. Maurice Chandler is a delicate lad whose first encounter with a brazen village girl bruises his sensitive fibre. Fortunatel/ he is given friendship and inspiration by Ann Arnold, a charming “grass widow,” whom the village gossips quickly maKe a profitable subject for scandal. The lovers find it difficult to endure the period of platonic association necessary until Ann is free to marry, but Ann’s strength of character is their salvation. “Spring Comes Again,” by' April Thorn Published by Mills and Boon, London Our copy from the publishers. “Pilgrim’s Ford” Lola Eicantadora, a Spanish dancer who captivated an Englishman ten years younger than herself, bequeathed to her daughter exceptional beauty, a warm Southern temperament and a firm loyalty and devotion which made her the loved companion of John Grandison, her grandfather, when she went to- live with him at Pilgrim’s Ford. Joy, a loveable girl, is an even more lovable woman. Her marriage with Quentin Damer, elder brother of her first love —an airman killed at the war —was a long time finding the firm foundation of sympathy- and respect. Ultimately it was through suffering and adversity that it did so. This smooth, well-written novel makes eminently agreeable reading. Miss Hine paints an enchanting picture of rural England. “Pilgrim’s Ford,” published by John Lane, the Bodley Head. Our copy from Dymock and Co., agents, Sydney. An Australian Humorist Anyone who seeks a good laugh should read “Hilarities,” by Hal Eyre, described by the author as “the thirty-nine indefinite articles.” Australia has produced some good humorists, and Eyre must rank with the best of them. “Hilarities” is a series of sketches and essays in little, dealing with a wide variety of subjects, ranging from old mining days to the more modern fads of community singing, vitamines and jazz. “Hilarities,” by Hal Eyre. Our copy from the publishers, Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydney.