Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1033, 25 July 1930, Page 16

Books Reviewed

An Interesting Library The Week End Library, published at tho Bodley Head, comprises interesting volumes of almost every type, in pleasing format for the traveller or for the small library bookshelf. Andre Maurois, G. K. Chesterton, J. B. Priestley, Richard Garnett, Stephen Leacock, and John Buelian have contributed to the success of these editions, and now two volumes have been added by Mr. Frank Harris, whose contribution to English literature has been a great one. These are "Montes, the Matador,” and “Elder Conklin.” “Montes, the Matador,” is a magnificent and atmospheric short story of love and revenge In Spain. In the same volume are one or two charming fragments, and the longer story, "Sonia,” a poignant tale of Russia, narrated with masterly simplicity. "Montes” was first in 1900; “Elder Conklin,” with its amusing pictures of American life, in 1895 (Harris's first book of short stories). Harris himself, in a newly-written preface, says that he considers these two books to contain some of bis best short stories. Those who have not yet formed an acquaintance with the stimulating Mr. Harris (they will probably have no opportunity in New Zealand of reading his banned autobiography) had better make his acquaintance in this easy and pleasant fashion. “Montes, the Matador,” and “Elder Conklin,” the Week End Library. John Lane, the Bodley Head, Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers. A Mine of Thrills Fourteen short stories by “Sapper” in one book should be sufficient to satisfy tho keenest hunters of thrilling bargains. For who excels the creator of Bulldog Drummond in so telling a tale as to draw old men from tho chimney corner and hold children from play? In his latest hook the popular author does not excel himself at his best, but the merit of each story still is high enough to escape protest. Some of the tales have adorned fiction magazines, and therefore may not be new to every reader. This, however, is a risk worth taking, because “Sapper” is rarely ever worth less than reading twice. So "The Finger of Fate, and

Other Stories.” can be recommended as a good investment for lovers of thrilling tales. “The Finger of Fate, and Other Stories,” by “Sapper,” Dodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London. Our copy comes from the publishers’ representative in Sydney, Mr. W. S. Smart. Was He Killed? “Men had died before in the Haunted Mine, but not by bullets . . —that is tho first chapter-heading in “The Owner Lies Dead,” a mystery tale told in a refreshing fashion, and containing a full ration of incidents that cause the frisonnement of the spine so much sought after by novelists today. When Tony Sheridan left his mine-owner uncle to descend the main shaft of a burning mine, and ascertain if further rescues could be effected, he took tho risk of being suffocated, or incinerated, but who would have thought that his dead body, almost unidentifiable, would bear signs of a bullet wound —a shot in the back? That was the case—or appeared to be. But Tony’s brothers (and others) ultimately discovered that the body was not that of Tony, but* of a man who had married the girl who had once considered sharing the name of Sheridan with him. The childhood and young-manhood of these Sheridan boys and their immediate circle of friends is cleverly outlined, and from the tangled relationships of small-town life is evolved an excellent mystery that gains considerably in the telling. There is a good old-fashioned ending, with villainy foiled and virtue triumphant against a rose-coloured background. “The Owner Lies Dead,” Victor Gollanez. Ltd., 14 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London. Our copy from the publishers. Condemned A page from the life of a condemned man is presented in “While There is Life,” a striking first novel by Mr. Will Markall. In the first chapter, thanks to the omnipotence that is the possession of novelists, we are permitted to participate in the dream of a man sentenced to death for com plieity in the murder of a fellow gangster. In that dream, naturally enough, he has returned to his home, his wife and mother and his little son, of whose arrival he had been unaware. The dream ends, and our prisoner finds that he has fallen from his narrow bed to the stone floor of his cell. Thus introduced, wo follow the grim waiting period of this Claude Roderick, with its alternations of hopeless despair and despairing hope. The suspense of waiting for the result of an appeal, for the result of a petition, for the arrival of the hangman ... an eternity of waiting for a condemned man . . . are told with sincerity and conviction. The final scene, on a cold, grey morning of March, presenting in detail the gruesome episodes at the scaffold, is, in offect, propaganda for the abolition of capital punishment. The book is simply planned and most effective in its emotional appeal. ’’While There is Life.” Victor Gollancz. Ltd., 14 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London. Our copy from the publishers. Told Again. When the Cavemen sat round their Qrea at night, and let their chosen Teller-of-Tales entertain them, one of .hose prehistoric novelists had a brilliant idea for a plot. Shortly, it was! this: A Man loved a Girl who had an unhappy home (her mother used to; beat her with a left-over strip of dino-j saurus hide) and so, to rescue her ,'rom the attentions of Mamma, he, wanted to take her away to his own' ave. After short preliminaries, he tianaged to do this, but although he* tved her to distraction, she did not reurn his love. And so they went on in i rather miserable and one-sided fash.on, until the climax arrived in the shape of a handsome villain. The giil, of course, being only feminine, fell in love with him. When she found out ,how really villainous this villain was, the outpourings of her new love bo .camp diverted into the proper channel, 'that is to say, to the almost superhuman and long-suffering husband. [They lived happily ever after. The cavemen liked this touching title, and we believe we were interested the first time we read it, but the trouble is, that eTer since the time ot that first Teiler-of-Tales, every young Writer has had the same happy' j ( ?) inspiration. It would therefore be !a little difficult to entertain us with this plot. However. "The Risen Sun,"l la novel just published, by Gladys F.' Tharp. is simply told, and is a quite rffective story. In it the girl appear* |in the modern form of an office girl, "he man, who rescues her from an alcoholic mamma, by tbe simple proiC’ss of marrying her, is her “boss.” ’"he villain—but we are telling too i-uch. “The Risen Sun.” Gladys F. Sharp. Nash ••ncl Grayson, Our copy from W'hitombe and Tombs. Ltd. Plain War Narratives. Written without thought of literary artifice, the 60 personal narratives that go to the making of “Everyman at War” have a forcefulness and sincerity often lacking in more studied work. These narratives have been compiled front over 300 submitted to Mr C. B. Prudhom, and he publishes them in the form in which they came into his hands. The contributors include officers and men in all services, but preference seems to have been given to the stories of the men, and the book gains in value because of this. How the common soldier reacted to the war can be gauged front these simple records, and the incidents that impressed most are adequately described. As the editor sa-ys in his introduction, the tendency has been not to stress the suffering and horror of the war,, but its senselessness. There is no accentuation of the adventure ip war, but rather its disasters. None are more qualified to write of this than the men who served on land, in the air, and on sea. They were the victims, and the best observers, but it is not often that they break silence. In Mr Prudhom’s volume they have been given the opportunity to speak out, and they have, used it well. These narratives, because of their lack of affectation and artifice, are worth much more than the sophisticated war novels.V “Everyman at War.” Edited by C. B. Prudhom. .T. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. Our copy from She publishers.

Indian Dreamer Akbar the Great Dreamer, Atma the well beloved; Siyah Yamin, the courtesan, and the Rajah Man Singh, are figures of arresting colour on a glowing Indian tapestry woven by Flora Annie Steel in “A Prince of Dreamers,” This, the second of her series of four novels dealing with the reigns of the four great Mogul emperors of the Indies, is in every respect an exceptional book, vividly written by one who ha 3 sensed, and can recast, the spell of past Indian glories and Oriental splendours. “A Prince of Dreamers” first appeared in 190 S, and the present modestly priced, reprint is the first that has been issued. “Indian Dreamer." John Lane the BpcTley Head, Ltd., Vigo Street, London, tV. Our copy from the publishers. Napoleon and Josephine, One of the most outstanding historical novels of recent years, E. Barring.en’s book “The Thunderer” has been republished in a cheaper edition. Telling the tragic love affair of Napoleon aud Josephine that led up to the celebrated divorce, the book deals more with the human side of the meteoric career of these two famous personage*, passing over briefly but adequately the great political and military event* of the period. With their loves, hates, ambitions and jealous passions the “Man of Destiny” and the “Lady of Victories” stand out from the printed page like living, breathing persons—very different from the cold and unnatural figures of the history books. It is a brilliant piece of • writing. “The Thunderer.” E. Barrington. Harrap. Our copy from Robertson and Mullens, Ltd., Melbourne. The Collected Marryat. Four further volumes of Dent’s collected edition of Captain Marryat's novels have been received, bringing the total to 14. “Percival Keene” has no distinctive qualities, but it is a Bimple, well-told adventure story. The hero, who begins lifo without material advantages of any kind, has many remarkable escapes from dangers on land and sea. He finally triumphs over adversity, and Captain Keene and his dearest Minnie, are left with proprietary rights to Madeline HalL While “Our Jack” has plenty of adventurous incident it lacks the breadth and vigour of the best of the novels. The homely picture of life at Greenwich Hospital, and the studies of the hardened old characters living there, give the book a certain value as a historical chronicle. The main interest attaching to “The King’s Own” is the fact that it is the author’s first venture In fiction While it has a most orderly plot, perhaps Marryat’s best, the book still contains many digressions such as the writer’s views concerning the profession of authorship and the conduct of reviews, and many other assorted subjects. ’’Joseph Rushbrook” is a story of domestic r.dventure, and it takes a worthy place among books of that kind. The characters are satisfactorily drawn, and the plot is unravelled with pleasant easiness. Edgar Allen Poe did not Ilka It, though, and he declared in a splenetic review that he knew 20 young men who could write a better novel in a week. Volumes 11, 12, 13, 14, the Collected Marryat. J. M. Dent and Sons. Our copy from the publishers. Seeking Easy Fortune If six business adventurers, or a small company of crooks, had not insisted that the keeper of a safe deposit tear up into six pieces the receipt for a deposited formula of great commercial value, several honest men would have been robbed of a million pounds. Fortunately, rogues occasionally do foolish things, and thus not only help society, but give fictionists a theme for a mystery story. And when an idea of the kind inspires Mr. E. Phillips Gppenheim, the resultant tale cannot fail to be entertaining. In his latest novel, this resourceful writer makes the most of a shallow foundation, and contrives to build quite ail attractive structure with a shortage of material. A good story for a wet day or a dreary train journey. “The Million Pound Deposit,” by E. Phillips Oppenheim. Hodder and Stoughton,. Our copy from Mr. W. S. Smart, the publishers* Sydney representative.