"Favourite Novels"

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 4, 10 August 1928, Page 12

"Favourite Novels"

fi rN following entries for the "Fav_ourite Novels" Competition were chosen for publication in last week’s issue, but were unavoidably held over t3ro. gh lack of space.-Verity. "The Forsyte Saga."

(By

John

Galsworthy

"OE the making of books there is no end"’---but the end of most books rade, what is it? Stories of strange happenings, improbable _ situations, yugue personalities-they charm or xmuse for a while perhaps, but soon sink into oblivion. Now and again, however, from amongst the stream’ of books poured forth from the world’s printing presses, there emerges some work which, in its appeal to both heart and mind, is destined to outlive popular fancy. Such is John Galsworthy’s "Forsyte Saga." Upon the literary style I make no comment. Galsworthy is a master of composition. To me, the appeal of the book lies in its faithful portrayal of life. The innermost beings, the very heart-throbs of the men and women within its.pages (and: they are many), lie bare before the reader. Not only the principal characters-Soames, Trene, Old Jolyon, Jolyon, June, Bosinney, Fleur, Jon-but the minor characters, too, are well and truly drawn. Their "humanness" tugs at our heartstrings. They are us-we them! Around all these characters, and with much wealth of detail, is woven an absorbing story. The "Forsyte Saga’ should find a place in the library of every lover of good literature.-M. Phin.

"The Cloister and the Hearth."

(By

Charles

Reade

¥Y favourite book is "The Cloister : and the Hearth," by Charles Reade. I have read many love stories, put always I return to the charm of that old world romance, and find it most absorbing, from the time Gerard and Margaret met -on the road to QRotterdam till their untimely deaths. Was there ever a more ill-fated pair? Their love thwarted, their marriage ceremony twice interrupted, poor Gerard foreed to leave Margaret and his home, his adventures in ‘other countries -perilous, gruesome, gay, but always interesting. The description of the country through which he passed, its people and customs. The good and evil fortune that befell him, the crushing blow of the false report of Margaret’s death, when he enters the church and in time returns to his own country, where he becomes a hermit and afterwards the vicar of Gonda. And Margaret-what a brave, sweet and gracious characte? is in her .depicted! With what various devices to snpport her dear ones her loving devotion inspired her! Her grief at poor Gerard’s plight when she finds he is the new hermit; the manner in which she makes known his son to him! Her cleverness in coaxing him to the vicar-

age. The woman's wit that inspired her to destroy the cave and lure Ger: ard’s birds with their gilded feet to the vicarage. Lastly, their deaths-Mar-garet’s first, then Gerard’s so soon to follow.-"Mifanwy." — ° "An Introduction to Sally."

(By Countess

M. A.

von Arnheim

I THINK the really .perfect novel needs to contain a good plot, a certain amount of laughter, charm, and romance, and I also like the character studies to be cleverly drawn out. Yor these reasons I am particularly fond of the book entitled "An Introduction to Sally". Although the author of this book has written many brilliant novels, she has always retained her nom-de-plume, "The Author of ‘Elizabeth

and Her German Garden’, " the title of the book which first brought her fame. This, no doubt, is the reason why the name of Countess M. A. von Arnheim as a novelist is not more widely known. The theme of the story is delightfully unusual, at the same time quite within the realms of possibility. The heroine, Sally, is possessed of almost startling loveliness, and yet she has had a gutter upbringing, the beauty being as impossible to hide as the gut-ter-in fact, it is strange how completely Sally doesn’t match. Some of the situations which arise-for instance, when Sally marries and enters society-are exquisite. Withal, Sally has a sweet and charming nature, which endears her to all readers.‘Fountain Pen." "No. %, Brick Row."

(By

M.

Riley

"No. 7, Brick Row," by M. Miley, has a special charm for ine because the author has such a good understanding of human nature, and the characters in it are so realistically portrayed that one does not read many pages before one feels that they ave beloved and intimate friends. livery page is vitally interesting. Humour and pathos are interwoven from beginning to end. Livery emotion is skilfully porirayed and true to life,

while the best that is in Human nature is extolled. The heroine is a study of womanhood at her best. Not only does she hive an uplifting influence upon her associates in the book, but also on the rendets of the book. lier heart is large enough to mother all who are in distress of any kind. The young folk all feel that in her they have a wise ‘counsellor, a loving © and trustworthy friend. True to ‘Womanhood, she revels in having a finger in the making of other people’s matrimonial pies. The beauty of her character is enhanced by her sordid surroundings, like the water-lily is which grows in a filthy pond. All the minor characters are just as cleverly and skillfully portrayed as is the heroine, and one puts the book down with real regret that it is ended.-Mrs. H. Gedge. * ee om meee 2 Oe