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New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 780, 2 July 1954, Page 4

better books In a recent contest to try and discover which eminent writers now living would be remembered in 200 years time, T S. Eliot topped the poetry list, Christopher Fry drama, A: J. Toynbee history, and Bertrand Russell philosophy. New books by all four of these authors are appearing this year and are listed with other interesting and important books below_ new and forthcoming T S. Eliot's new play THE CoNFIDENTIAL CLERK (13s. 3d.) is probably the most important book of the first half of the year. This play is being performed both in London and New York. Though the critics are divided in their opinions those who know his previous plays will want to read this new one Christopher Fry is like Eliot in being a poetic dramatist and in using religious themes but there the likeness stops. Fry'$ new play has an enigmatic title THE DARK IS LIGHT ENOUGH-~if you get it back to front we shall still recognise it. And a third book by a poet Dylan Thomas UNDER MILKWOOD (10s. 6d.) is written for broadcast voices. biography The most interesting biography to uS in NZ will no doubt be Antony Alper S KATHERINE MANSFIELD (21s. both as a writer and as a person she is still the source of some controversy: The most controversial biography will be Richard Aldington' S T E LAWRENCE (25s.) Aidington suggests that 'Lawrence imagined some of the incidents in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom that he wrote about as having taken part in. Later in the year David Low the famous, NZ: born; cartoonist will publish his AUTOBIOGRAPHY (about 21s.) novels Christopher Isherwood s THE WoRLD IN THE EvENING (12s. 6d.) has been long awaited; it is eight years since his last very short novel was published: Saul Bellow S THE ADVENTURES OF AUGIE MARCH (15s. is probably the best novel to come from America recently: The fact that it has been popular over there is probably less important than that it is highly ranked by Lionel Trilling; one of the best modern critics. A translation of one of France' S leading novelists Francois Mauriac, is expected soon THE RIVER OF FIRE (12s. 6d) _ C. P Snow in his THE NEW MEN (12s. 6d.) deals with the discovery of atomic fission and the psychological effect it had on the lives of the scientists concerned. pa8 A new edition of van de Velde s IDEAL MARRIAGE (30s.) is expected to arrive in New Zealand about the end of this month. The last three volumes of Arnold Toynbee $ THE STUDY OF HISTORY (vols: 7-9) will be published later in the year. Some of the above books are not yet published SO the prices are approximate. If you prefer to send no money mark the titles that interest you, on the above list , add your name and address, and you Il be advised when the books are available. Any book which is unsuitable can be returned. Please add 6d. per vol. postage . to Rou Persons BOOKSELLER 12 WOODW ARD STREET WELLINGTON PLEASE SEND ME THE BOOKS 1 HAVE MARKED ON THE ABOVE LIST WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE NAME ADDRESS