THE READER'S COLUMN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 115, 8 October 1914, Page 6

THE READER'S COLUMN.

(By Junes Wortley)

'•Germany and Good Faith," a study of the history of the Prussian Royal family, by E. H. C. Oliphant, Australia: Critchley Parker, 1914.

We can hardly conceive the enormous influence on literature the present war Will have. Looking back over the years vro got but a faint idea by noting 1 the influence of Waterloo, of the American revolution, the American Civil War, without going any further back into history. These books have a certain sequence. There is the first stage, when the phamphletccr is busy with eager partisan arguments for hia side, and highly sensational statements about the enemy. Next comes the enterprising' journalist with a popular history of the war also from a partisan standpoint. Following that we have the real historian who tries within the narrow limits of human skill to make just comment on, | and a true story of the various happeni ings. And with it all, there is a more or less important output of fiction dealing with various phases of the war, and its influence upon the domestic and social life of the people. The volume under notice, issued as it is, in what we believe to be the eari(f stage of the struggle, (tomes very decidedly under the first leading of our category. Indeed the tone is vitriolic. Tuuo the opening lines: "Tie Hohenzolterns. are it family of bandits. When they first confront us is the pages of history they possessed a formidable seat in the Suabian Alps and lived by 'brigandage . . . his troops "had not scrupled to rob, ravish, murder and oppress fee people." But stout partizanship is not necessarily condemnation of a book. It is, in reality, inevitable in the circumstances, and at the time of compilation. The book is thoroughly readable and will give the man in the street, who has not made Prussian history and government a pass subject, a peep into some of the causes that have resulted in one of the foremost nations of the world promoting and engaging in a predatory war, a war which in the first few weeks of its history has been responsible for more suffering and rapine than the world has before known. It shows that the trampling upon the "scrap of paper" was but the logical outcome of the previous action of thu ruling family of Prussia.

'The Cruise of the Falcon," by E. F. Knight. Xeiion's Shi-ling Library.

'"Easily my best seller in that series." remarked a bookseller, when visiting another town recently, I commented uyou the long row of this book ho had on show. It is tlie account of a voyage from Southampton to South America r.r.d u;> the La Plata river. It is full of intensely Interesting Incidents, detailed in diary form. The picture given of the social life of the people of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is excellent, and one which it is hard to find so complete in any other work. From the very many account? we have of re-victualling, especial!.; tlm rum-cask, it was a merry party that made its way by easy stages up thu mighty inland waterway of South America. It is easy to make an excellent collection of travel books in Kelson's series at one and three. A good start will be made when you secure "A Cruise of the Falcom."

RECEXT FICTION. "The Light of Western Stars," by Zane Grey, author of "Desert Gold." New York and London: Harper and Brothers, 1911.

Some forty to fifty miles north of tho head of the Gulf of California, which itself is a long arm of the sea, dividing the Panhandle from its sister provinces of Mexico, there runs the arbitrary international boundary, cutting somewhat diagonally across the thirty-second latitude. It i» a weird, desert country, rather destitute of water, but attractive as the promising theatre of wild adventure that the youth of more prosaic lands delight to read of. The talented author gbes us a realistic picture of life among tlie cowboys, and the dangers incidental to the wild border life oi the region, and rendered doubly adventurous just now beoause of the roving parties of guerillas which while the Mexican revolution is under way, infest tnat particular no man's land on the edge of civilisation. The story iteelf in. well told. Madeline Hammond is a New York heiress, who goes to visit her brother, who, in consequence of some escapade, has buried himself in New Mexiico. There he meets a fine woman, Florence Kingsley, natural product of the free, open dosert—a woman of shrewd common-sense, and natural ability. Regard for her causes him to settle down to earnest work, and at the opening of our story, Alf Hammond has settled down as a prosperous rancher.

Madeline—cultured and refined Madeline—meets her fato in Gene Stewart, a rough cowboy, yet a born leader of men. Geno has bouts when the liquor gets inte him, but Madeline's appearance had a wonderful effect in rescuing him from a life of debauchery. Not the least entertaining is the account of how Madeline uses her wealth t« build a model ranch, and the golf match with the cowboys is very funny. In Castleton we have a typieal Englishman. Bis quality of sticking to a job till he wins out darns sincere praise from the cowboys.

"The Crowning Glory," by E. R. Punflbon, author of "The Wilderness Lovers." London: Hodder and Stoughton.

An unusual story of how a girl, orphaned daughter of ft vicar, comes up to London and maker! good in the world of business. At first, engaged as a typiste to a firm of stockbrokers, sh» takes such intelligent interest in the science of high finance that she pulls off some yery profitable deals. Her success is immediate, and she is appointed assistant secretary to a rubber company, in which she is an important shareholder. How little woman is really at home in such a life is pointed out by her falling in love with a young man who is doing nothing like as well in the world as she is, yat whose dominating influence is sufficient to cause her to give up a promising career to become his mate, companion and wife. "The Swinder," mid other stores, by Ktliel It. Dell. London: T. Fisher Univin, 1814. A series of striking and realistic stories wliich have been collected from the '"Bed 'Magazine," when they firat appeared. Miss Doll has Ven equally successful -with the short story as the long novel. This is saying a good deal, for her "Kock of Valpre" and "The Way of an Eagle" have boon listed on both sides of Iho Atlantic as "best sellers." For those wlio like the short story tliis rolumo will (be very vclcomo. Books for review supplied by Mr A. 8 Brookev, -the B.K. Bookshop, Devon