Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1039, 1 August 1930, Page 14

Books Reviewed

A GLOBE-TROTTING NOVELTY. V'HE Vicomte Jacques de Sibour and his ’wife, -who is a daughter of Mr Gordon Selfridge, the millionaire shopkeeper, decided to go on a hunting trip to Indo-China. They owned a Moth ’plane, and naturally decided to fly there. Before the jour-, ney was finished, it developed into a flight a good part of the way round the world, and as even yet it is impossible to fly most of the way round the world without interesting experiences, Violette de Sibour wrote a book about their travels. Europe, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Iraq, India, Burma, Siam, Indo-China, America. A fascinating itinerary It would be by any way of travel; flying gives it the added charm' of novelty. Violette de Sibour’s pen runs on easily, whether she is describing the difficulties that were encountered, the interesting side-trips made from their many landing-places, or the hospitality of the Europeans who lived in the foreign towns that were visited. At times she seems rather to ovordramatise her own and her husband’s experiences; and flying people will be shocked by one or two things she says. It seems unfortunate that a woman who has owned a Cirrus engine should call it a Cyrus, as the countess does In her first few pages. But in spits of faults the book is very readable, and one of the first of tho many that will be written by the people who ara getting into the habit of flying over half a dozen continents without making any arrangements ahead or any great fuss about It while they ara doing it. A certain amount of engine trouble was met with, but that was only to be expected, considering the use the ’plane had, and the fact that the Gipsy engine in it was one of the first of its type to be put on the market. It is quite evident, from the fact tijat things went a 3 well as they did on one or two rather sticky occasions, that the Comte de Sibour Is a very good pilot. “Flying Gipsies.” Violette de Sibour. Putnam. Our copy from the publishers. Detail, Detail, and Detail. Although It Is much more coherent than many of the psycho-analytic novels, “The Confessions of Zeno” is not a book that is likely to stimulate more than the sparsest enthusiasm. It has admirable qualities; but most readers are in quest of more action than Is to be found within its pages. It is true that its author, Italo Svevo, may occupy the place in Italian literature which Joyce holds in England and that Proust held iu France, but even this knowledge will not help to make his book much more acceptable. Svevo, in hi 3 psychological document which runs to over 400 pages, is really burlesquing psycho-analytic methods, and he does it extraordinarily well. What happens ill "The Confessions of Zeno” i 3 that an elderly man accepts the advice of his doctor and writes his autobiography. The idea of the doctor was that such writing, In making the patient recall his past, would render him more fit for treatment. It is an interesting though excessively detailed chronicle, and Zeno was a man who had tasted of most that life had to offer. One of his weaknesses was cigarettes, and another was ladies. “Confessions of Zeno.” Italo Svevs. Pin-r-r.i. Our copy from the publishers. Mystery That Baffles A detective novel in which much is sacrificed in the interests of the main theme—that of baffling mystery—is “The Crystal Beads Murder,” the last tale from the pen of Annie Haynes, who died in 1929. This writer had many fascinating novels to her credit and pathos is lent to her final production partly because it is easily her best and partly because she died before completing it. The remainder of the plot and the denouement were known and the final chapters were penned by another woman writer of mystery stories (was it Agatha Christie?). “The Crystal Beads Murder” is strongly reminiscent of Mrs. Christie at her best and as, in the opinion of this reviewer, the ingenious creator of M. Poirot has few peers as a weaver of

perplexing plots, such praise needs no embellishment. The narrative contains character drawing that is transparent, dialogue that is trite, and situations that are more melodramatic than real, but anything can be forgiven when we are favoured with a really excellent murder puzzle that contains a genuine surprise. “The Crystal Beads Murder.” John Lane, the Bodley Head, Ltd., London. Our copy direct from the publishers. How’s Your Game?

11l “Pictorial Golf,” Mr. H. B. Martin drew the right and wrong way of playing most golf strokes. He has discovered a few more faults and many new ways of drawing old ones. As a result, iu his new book, “What’s Wrong With Your Game?” there are pictures illustrative of all the finer points of golf; from the freedom of swing permitted to women players with short skirts to the surest way of overcoming the most difficult stymie. Famous internationals are drawn in characteristic stance on the foot of each page .and the only illustration missing appears to be one showing a fit and proper death for the man who drops his cigarette butts oil the greens. The sections devoted to iron play are excellent and those on putting are to the point and admirably illustrated. Prevalent faults among women players are discussed. Any fault not prescribed for in this book is a rarity more to be treasured than stamped out. "What's Wrong Witli Your Game?” John Lane, the Bodley Head, Ltd.. London. Our copy from the publishers direct. The Losers. Sponsored by Sir Barry Jack3on, "Shadows of Strife,” a three-act tragedy by John Davison, a young engineer, gives a forbidding picture of life in a Yorkshire mining home during the General Strike of 192 C. While bitterness might easily have obtruded itself, the author has resisted temptation to exaggerate, or worse still, preach. Instead he just allows liis uncommented tragedy to reveal Itself. The material is ample evough, and the bitter chronicle moves with classic inßvitableness. The charaoters are excellently drawn, and the way in which their minds alter under the pressure of new circumstances as the strike wears on shows that the playwright knows his psychology, and has too a thorough grip of dramatic technique. The play lias been Ifroduced l>y various repertory societies in England, and it deserves to be widely seen and read. In the ploy the collier and his son •re arrogantly confident of victory over the capitalists; but little by little their spirits break. The eon goes to prison, the father of the daughter’s child is killed, and the girl commits suicide. Money runs low in spite of the thrifty housewife, and in the end defeat is admitted where an impossible victory watt anticipated. "Shadows of Strife.” John Davison. .T. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers. An Original Mystery. An ingenious plot, developed in an ingenious way, makes “The Living Dead Man,” by Mr Leroy Scott, an un usually entertaining murder mystery and one that is distinctly above the average. Briefly, it tells of how Peter Buchanan, rendered paralytic and dumb as a result of an accident, gradu ally recovers, and on his recovery, which is kept a secret, he hits on the plan of burying his old identity and assuming a new, so that he can trace a murderer, and so solve what so far had been the "perfect crime.” With the aid of bis surgeon his features are so altered that his disguise is com plete, and apparently an utter stranger, with perfectly innocent intentions. he is permitted to move in a former circle of acquaintances, unsuspected and unhindered, the while he discreetly doins together the pieces of an intricate puzzle. How he evenlu ally succeeds is told in a well-con structed story, in which the tnl-n of events provides some unusual twists “The Living Dead Man.” T.r rny Srmt.* Nash and Grayson. Our copy from Wbltcombe and Tombs, Ltd. Play Procuetron. With large experience as a producer of plays for amateur dramatic societies, C. B. Prudom has, in “Producing Plays,” written a thoroughly competent manual for those who wish to do as he has done. He does not take the reader out of depth, and instead just gives the practical advice that i 3 so much needed to aid amateur theatrical production. He writes authoritatively on such subjects as choice of plays, rehearsing, scenery, make-up, lighting, stage-management, and also finance. The book is well illustrated, and is furnished with a glossary of stage terms, and a valuable bibliography. It will appeal to all who liavo an amateur’s interest in the theatre, and more especially td those whose interest is active rather than passive.

“Producing Plays.” C. B. Prudom. .1. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers.

Afforestation In Southern Lands Afforestation in all its phases is dealt with very effectively by Mr. E. Maxwell in his recent work “Afforestation in Southern Lands.” The, writer is a master of his subject, not only on

the theoretical side, but on ‘ the practical as well. The publication is a definite attempt to educate the public in the value of the timber resources of New Zealand, and to show the possibilities for future development by way of afforestation. He deals exhaustively with the planting and cultivation of exotic trees, principally those introduced from California and Australia, and points out the growing demand for wood-pulp. It is a book that should interest all who are concerned with the development of New Zealand on sound economic lines. "Afforestation in New Zealand,” by E. Maxwell. Our copy comes to hand direct from the publishers, Messrs. AVhltcombe and Tombs. Ludwig’s Life Of Lincoln.

“Never again, since Abraham Lincoln lived and died, h?s an innocent man worn fetters in the United States Since he lived, worked, and was slain, all men to whom God has given tho gift of life are born free." Good, dramatic material Abe Lincoln always has been for the biographers, and Emil Ludwig is one who knows liow to make the best of good material. For that reason ,liis life of Lincoln will be widely read; what is more, it may win new admirers for Lincoln, since not all of his biographers have succeeded in being as interesting: some of the Americans have sacrificed' reader interest to thoroughness of detail. A foreigner Its,B the advantage here: he comes upon all, or the bulk of, his material at the sana time, and he relates it all directly to the central figure, but uses detail sparingly rather than overshadow the main purpose of biography, which surely is to paint a canvas on which the background sets off the subject, without overshadowing it. Ludwig is an intense admirer of Lincoln, with st horn he claims a personal sympathy which he has never felt so strongly for any other great man of history. Tho work is divided into five parts: "Wage Earner. Citizen, Fighter, Liberator, and Father, a division that some Lincoln students think they could improve upon, but one which is eminently suitable to Ludwig's treatment. “Lincoln." F.mll Ludwig. G. P. Putnam’s, Sons. Our copy from the publishers. “The Under Dogs." “The Under Dogs,” translated from the Spanish of Dr Mariano Azuela, is a novel of the Mexican revolution of 1914-15. published in English 10 years after the original appeared. It is a “war novel” only in the sense that it treats of a campaign from the personal angle. It does not attempt broadly to outline the revolution; It considers types of the Mexican “bad man,” the militarist, the revolutionary, and follows them in their mad day-to-day struggle for a cause that they have only the haziest understanding of—blind, bewildered agents of “the Revolution.” Tho scenes unfold at a furious pace—the clash of Villa and Huerta, leader and leader: to the "under dog” one Is as good as an other. The novel is an acute, brutally real study of the psychology of a class who fought, loved, robbed, killed and were killed. They were in the revo httion simply because it absorbed ‘hem; and at least it provided a means ->f self-expression. “The Under Dogs.'' Mariano Azuela. 'onnthan Cape, Ltd. Our copy from the Publishers. Short Stories. Collections of short stories are so numerous to-day that a new publication must have some particular merit to commend it. “Tales that Enthrall” has two. In the first place it contains .29 stories covering a wide range of subjects and illustrating a diversity of treatment, and, further, it is published at a moderate price. There are a few old friends, which bear rereading. but the majority of the tales are little known. Humour and horror, irony, pathos and fantasy are all represented in the pages. The compiler is Arnold Dawson, and the tales are selected from a series which was published in the London “Daily Herald.” An enjoyable book. “Tales That Enthrall.” Kdfted by Arnold Dawson. The Richards i’rcss, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers. Poets ’ Corner CITY *AT NIGHT (Written for THE SUN) Always I have desired Life in hotels . . . Carpets, and servants, and dancing, and music, And electric bells. And the culture I thought icould be there. But standing in the shadow That one of them throws t Eightpcnce in my pocket, and in my soul a hunger Such as only youth knows, Gusts of laughter have shaken my frame. For down in the Lounge there sit Merchants with paunches, Frozen formality seals their tight lips ... Ah God! On the Harbour the launches And ferries expend all their beauty in vain ; And 1 am standing, Enveloped round with darkness; and the Flight Is God’s great hostelry, and yet I am alone Because there is no guinea tariff asked. CHRISTINE COMBER. Auckland.

BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION “HER FATHER'S HOUSE," by 11. Vaughan. “MEDAL WITHOUT BAR,” by li “ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND ,” by D. H. Lawrence. “THE /STRANGER,” by G. Elton. “GOOD SIR JOHN," by F. F. Gaye. “THE SWEET CHEAT GONE,” by Proust. v “DAVID COPPERFIELDby C. Dickens. ’ NON-FICTION “WALTER DE LA MAIiE,” by For“BEYOND PHYSICS ,” by Sir Oliver Lodge. “A WRITER’S NOTES ON lIIS TRADE.” by C. E. Montague. “INTIMATE JOURNALS OF PAUL GAUGUIN.” “ASH WEDNESDAY,” by T. S. Eliot. “SAILS AND SADDLES,” by Sir Michael Bruce. “PRACTICAL CARTOONING FOR PROFIT ,” by TV. Farrow. “THE MAGIC OF THE STARS.” by M. Maeterlinck. “THE JUNGLE TIDE,” by John Still.