Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1075, 12 September 1930, Page 14

Books Reviewed

GLIMPSES OF SICILY. KNOWN to the reading public more particularly for his services to the reputation of Samuel Butler. Henry Festing Jones has allowed his own literary reputation to suffer in consequence. Nevertheless, he is an interesting writer, and of bis spuatual home, Italy, he has written a good deal. The lure that the sunny south held for him is shown in “Diversions in Sicily,” which has just been published iu the Travellers’ Library. In this book, delightfully written, and full of a robust and individual humour, it Is possible to see how the author reacted to his picturesque surroundings, and how well he portrayed the life that he saw. Its quality as a travel book is undeniable. Mr Jones has ihronicled and interpreted Sicilian life. The author, who chose the volume for publication never saw it come from the press in the new format. Ho died last October. “Diversions in Sicily.” Henry Festing Jones. Jonathaja Cape. Traveller? Linrarv Our cop> from the publishers. RESOURCES OF EMPIRE The question of Empire Free Trade and the discussion of inter-Dominiou tariffs is so much before the public, that some kind of publication compressing into a single volume the statistics from a dozen different yearbooks and countless official papers was badly needed. Mr. L. St. Clare Grondona, who has called his

book “Empire Stocktaking,” fills the deficiency. In this book the productive resources of every territory in the Empire are enumerated. Trade balances are shown in convincing coloured diagrams. New Zealand, for instance, in the period 1021-1928, had a balance of £19,880,000 in its favour against Britain, which suggests that though Great Britain is our best customer, we are far from being Britain’s. The fact is nevertheless gratifying. Australia in the same period had a very heavy adverse balance. If any statistical information could illustrate the difference iu the relative soundness of Australia and New Zealand today, the disparity in trade balances quoted by Mr. St. Clare Grondona does so. New Zealand, as a leading producer, figures considerably in the book. But the author is no propagandist. The book is simply a statement of facts and figures, in which there are xio implications, yet from which cmlightening inferences may be drawn. What adds to its value is that the source of every reference is given, so that all statistics may be verified. In his review of the dairying situation iu New Zealand the author (or compiler would he a better word) .gives New Zealand a good testimonial. We who are proud of our large factories will, however, be surprised to learn that, the largest butter factory in the world is not in the Waikato or Taranaki, but at Byron Baj r , in almost tropical latitudes of New South Wales. “Empire Stocktaking,” to be issued annually, will be an indispensable aid to every student of Imperial economic affairs. “Empire Stocktaking - ,” by L. St. Clare Grondona, with coloured diagrams by Mrs. St. Clare Grondona. Published by Simpkin Marshall, Ltd., London. Haven for Murderers An adventure story with the charm of novelty is Mr. George Goodchlld’s ‘‘The Emperor of Hallelujah Island,” one of the latest of Header and Stoughton’s popular yellow-cover series. We are assured by a slogan on the jacket that “the going's good with Goodchild,” and it can be said frankly that there are no disappointments inside for the seeker after excitement at any cost. The author introduces a volcanic island in the South Atlantic on which lives a colony of escaped murderers. The island is controlled by a millionaire opponent of capital punishment whose methods, to say the least, are unique. There is that well-known, adventurenovel trio—the hero, the heroine, and the hero’s trusty friend; in addition there are villains at every turn and in every scene. After tile three “principals” escape from the island it is very conveniently swallowed up by the sea, a happening that enables the author to dispense with an involved climax, and round his story off iu more conventional fashion. Yes, the going is decidedly good! “The Emperor of Hallelujah Island,” by George Goodchild. Plodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London. Our copy from the publishers’ Sydney representative, Mr. W. S. Smart. A Mystery Thriller. " a grey smudge against the treetrunk. It had a vague shape. It moved away. It came hack again. It took form— human form. And it, raised a hand and pointed. At the same moment a sobbing scream . . .” In such manner does R. Francis Foster create atmosphere, suggesting the supernatural somewhat reminiscent of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” “Murder From Beyond,” Mr F’oster’s latest, has an the essentials of a good detective story. There are murders a-plenty but overlaying them all are touches of the supernatural, but not too much to strain the credulity. The solving of the mysteries is done by the re-portesr-detective, Ravenhill, master of logic, a character the author has used in his previous mystery stories. There is a love-interest worked in to give savour. Mr Foster has written in a workmanlike style a mystery novel that makes excellent reading. “Murder From Beyond.” R. Francis Foster. Nash and Grayson. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs.

About Unreal People There is an affinity between novelists and fairy god-mothers. Both have the useful gift of being able to change people at will into something entirely different. Iu her latest story, “The Brittle Shadow,” April Thorn shows just how this is done. A very ordinary and awkward little girl, with impossible but socially important parents, spends a few weeks at the seaside and is transformed. She has her first love affair at the age of eleven, and a few pages later has blossomed into womanhood. By the middle of the next chapter she is revelling in a delicious entanglement with the farm-labourer husband of her former nurse. Having got her characters into a thorough mess, April Thorn has to think of a quick way out. She marries her heroine off to an elderly but very rich suitor, who has been hovering in the background all through the piece, and conveniently packs the nurse and her unfortunate husband off to Australia — and everyone is happj*. We certainly were. Incidentally! it seems a pity that so many modern novelists seem to think that it is necessary to be crude to be interesting. “The Brittle

Shadow” would make much more pleasant reading it one or two passages were expurgated. "The Brittle Shadow,” by April Thorn, published by Mills and Boon, Ltd. Our copy from the agents, Sands and McDougall, Ltd., London. “Traveller's Rest” One conies on the most unexpected passages in Mrs. Henry Dudeney’s last novel, “Traveller’s Rest”—passages which lift it from the commonplace. True, Clara Foutain’s brother, a parish priest, fell in a drunken stupor at the church door and broke his neck, but there were extenuating circumstances, and he was really a great fellow with the great ideal. Traveller’s Rest was the old inn he had bought and turned into a home for derelicts. Clara joined her itrother there and eventually met the Flatterys—Simon, Iris mother and Iris sister —a curiously temperamental family living in' the manor nearby. That meeting sealed Clara’s fate. Her marriage to Simon and her break with him were inevitable. Our last glimpse of her is in a humble workman’s cottage, mother of two children, although her first marriage had never been annulled. Mrs. Dudeney’s prolific output never seems to affect her ability for creating unusual situations and handling them well; nor does it leave her at a loss for interesting characters. “Traveller’s Rest." W. Collins, Sons and Co., Ltd., London and Auckland. Our copy comes from the publisher’s Auckland house. “Stead's” One of the most interesting of the monthly magazines published in Australia, “Stead's Review,” is devoted to the expression ot stimulating and fearless views on questions that interest most intelligent persons today. The September number includes articles on “Gold and the Credit Collapse” (Dr. G. L. Wood), “The Squadron from the Far Lands” (the Dutch warships which will soon visit New Zealand), “Tumult of the War Books” (Tristan Buesst), “The Aborigine Passes” (Professor F. Wood Jones), “Shrimps, Dragons and Critics” (Vance Palmer and Leslie M. Henderson), “A New Voice .in Islam” (Emine Hanum), “The Decade that Launched an Ideal” (Sir Littleton Groom). There is also an interesting summary of world affairs, comment on the Little Theatre movement, a selection of Australian and European cartoons, original verse and a charming little piece of whimsy by Hugh MeCrae. And that, it will be admitted, is good literary fare. “Stead's Review." Monthly. Stead's! bourne’ el” I ‘ ,d ” 241 wllliam St., Mel- “ The Ladv of Despair” If Geoffrey Barsette did not actually j fall in love with the beautiful ward of Paul Daburon, famous advocate, I when he first saw her in a sordid I Apache cafd, he was certainly more j than a little interested. And his luck ! was in, for that night he made a good friend of Inspector Patras who was able to tell him all about Madelou Marly. Interesting telling it made, too. Made-lon's charm had attracted a number of suitors each of whom had—perhaps by some unhappy coincidence—met a sudden death in the very moment when his love seemed about to bo returned. From this opening to his latest novel, "The Lady of Despair,” Francis D. Grierson maintains the thrilling spirit of his story until he reaches that climax of revelation with which every novel of mystery, murder and dark doings in the underworld comes to an end. It I is a well-told yarn, that far surpasses, ! in intensity and plot, the majority of such books.

"The Lady of Despair,” bv Francis D Grierson. W. Collins, Sons and Co., Ltd., London and Auckland. Our copy from the publishers’ Auckland branch. The Latest Chandos Novel. One can read the Chandos novels of Mr Dornford Yates with much the same relish as one reads the Hannay novels of Mr John Buchan —which Is the same as saying that they are uncommonly good yarns. “Fire Below,” the fourth and latest Richard Chandos tale, is as nicely turned as ever. In it the likeable Chandos and his friend Hanbury return to Riechtenberg on the man-size job of getting the Countess Dresden out of the clutches of that detestable monarch. Prince Paul. Those who have read “Blood Royal” will recognise the gentleman, and will know what to expect of him after he learns that Hanbury. Chandos. and the latter's gracious lady, the Duchess Leonie. are back in his territory. As usual, Mr Yates sets a prodigious pace. The story moves with dash and brilliance, and the sequences are logical and beautifully calculated. It is an amazingly well thought out plot; and the climax—the death of the evil Greig and the discomfiture of the Prince—is as Satisfying as ever. The Public Librarian in Christchurch lists “Fire Below” as being much in demand. Mr Yates does not disappoint his public. “Fire Below.” Dornford Yates. Rodder and Stoughton, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers’ Australian and New Zealand : agent. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED “The Greater Evolution”—Or a Synthetic Formula for the Rationalisation of Science. By C- L. C. Smith. Including an analysis of basic prin - ciples common to astronomy and biology (i.e., the relation between the formation of the spheres and the origin of life). Delivered as a lecture before the Hawera Astronomical Society in 1926. 12pp. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Wellington. Our copy from the author. BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY NON-FICTION " ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHT OPERA:- by Sterling McKinlay. “ BYRON,” by .1. Maurois. “STORM OVER EUROPE;' by D. Jerrold. " UNDERTONES OF WAR,’’ by E. Blunden. “YOUR MEMORY ," by 11. Casson. “LINE," by E. Sullivan. “UR OF THE CHALDEES,” by C. L. YVoolley. “ THE MAGIC ISLAND,-’ by II". B. Seabroolc. “ WOODFILL OF THE REGULARS,” by Lowell Thomas. FICTION “CAIN’S BIRTHDAY ,” by Owen Rutter. “ THE MAGIC SEAS,” 1 by R. Le Gallienne. “ THE AUTOCRACY OF MR. PARHAM.” by H. G. Wells. “ BUTTON HILL,” by G. Stowell. “ CASTLE GAY,” by J. Buchan. “MISS MOLE,” by E. 11. Young. “ THE DEAN’S ELBOW,” by A. E. Mason. " TUCK-OF-DRUM.” by A. T. Sheppard. “ THE INHERITOR, - by E. F. Benson. “ THE GREAT MEADOW,” by E. .)/. Roberts.