"Books Grave and Gay"

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 45, 22 May 1931, Page 8

"Books Grave and Gay"

SEARCHING the air for further talks, I was fortunate enough to chance on Mr. H. C. South, giving a lecture on "Books Grave and Gay," from 2YA. This, to a great degree, restored both my equanimity and faith in speakers. First, however,. did I or did I not hear ardent instrumtalists tuviny 1 in nreharation for their appearance before the microphone? Th’s is as ‘tisance which must be checked. No one has the least quarrel with plenty of practice, but

it would seem to be the essence of bad’ manners thus to .overshadow another artist. Mr. South possesses an admirable radio voice and the arrangement of the subject matter of his talk was excellent. He began-with an interesting review of a book by V. H. L. Serle. M.Sc. entitled "Everyday Marvels of Science." The man in the street must not be put off by this somewhat awesome title, for I am satisfied by what I heard that there is much of intense interest to all of us in this work. Briefly the book describes what has been accomplished in the world of science and invention during the last thirty years insofar as it affects the comfort and well-being of the average layman. As the speaker said most aptly, "From the time when flying was merely a picturesque method of courting disaster, t the time when a young lady successfully flew a second-hand machine from Entgland to Australia in three weeks," is roughly the period covered. In addition, the following received honourable mention: "Susan Spray," . by Sheila K. Smith, whose latest book again has its setting on the borders of her beloved county of Sussex; ‘ ‘Seen Unknown," by Naomi Jacob, in which the writer. once more cleverly portrays Jewish life and character; "Into the Land of Nod," by H. A. Vachell, wherein the writer delves into the question of heredity, and which sounds interesting, and cannot fail to be worth while in view of its authorship; and last, but certainly not least, for those who like their books full of action, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ "Tarzan and the Empire." Almost by way of postcript, as it were" Mr. South quoted some excerpts from "The Book of Howlers,’ by H. Cecil. Hunt. If the samples given are typical, there should be many laughs and chuckles hidclen away between the covers of this book.