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Book Notes

FrRoM Ward, Lock-and Co., Limited (London and Melbourne)>: come three novels, diverse’as the poles in miaiffer and matter. © First in merit, frowh the point of literary distinction, is Mr. Stephen McKenna’s "Pandora’s Box and Other Stories." This is a ‘collection of what may be termed social impressions, and is worthy of the creator of the incomparable Sonia, who crashed her way to recognition far back in the war years, and won for Mr. McKenna considerable literary eclat. Since then this author has to his credit much accemplished achievement. In his last volume he triumphantly proves his prowess in what to the English writer is the difficult form of the short story. ‘The tales in the collection yary in quality, and are mostly subtle and skilled analyses of episodes and characterisations of thaf ippant and frothy- section of. society once known as the smart sef. Sut Mr. McKenna does not confine his attention to one section of the grear world, and is equally at home when he traces the decay of a great English family or the evolution of a pillar of the State. He has the true touch. the light hand. and with practised skill arouses interest ‘in such. diverse studies as blackmailing as a fine art or a slyly humorous study of "The Typical Heroine." | Perhaps the best sketch in the book is a dialogue at a polo match at Hurlingham, which dissects and eXposes the machinations and defeated ambitions of a social climber, this brilliantly etched and inexorable study of a type being a small masterpiece of truth to type and econ-

omy of expression, Far indeed from sithtlety of method, but extremely entertaining in its genre, is "Lhe Yellow Wagon," by Charman Edwards. This engrossing tale is frankly melodramatic in quality, and concer"s a wild Irish girl who spends her ciKxlhood’s years in the sordid. hohemian and shifting environment of an old-time travelling theatre. After yarious vicissitudes, the charming and forceful Sheila forges ahead to fame and fortune. "Lhe Yellow Waggon," tells the tale of that difficult passage to a pince in the sun, her rapprochement with the 'true-hearted Owen, "freckled, ailing and insignificant." but "leal to his friends." From him she was parted for long years, is seduced by the egregious Houston, whom eventually che marries. However loyalty. selfsierifice, invincible attraction win the day, and‘all ends happily, though much water flows:under the bridges before that desirabte- -e6iiclusion- is reached. Battle, murder. arid sudden death are rampant, and jniterest does not flag. the book being well worth while, if only (Continued on fourth column.)

for the sake of that delightful old vagabond and toper, "ferry Fitzpatrick. The third of Messrs. Ward, Lock and Co.'s publications is "he Pitiful Lady," by the late ‘Katharine Tynan,’ poet and novelist, who will dwell long in the memories of lovers of literature, more perhaps for the haunting charm ‘of her yerses than for conspicuous ability as a novelist. Nevertheless she has written’ Some entertaining tales that have pleased ‘a wide circle of noyel-readers, and this posthumous story from the versatile Irish writer is quite ‘up to ‘siandard. It is the story of a ‘beguil‘ing maiden, who, unknown to herself, lias a "lang pedigree’ but very few ‘of the world's goods. Nancy, however, has captivating ways and speedily finds friends. A friend ‘of all waifs and strays, human and canine, she embraces the profession of a veterinarian, in order that she may extend ‘her love and help to the four-footed ‘creation. Many a lame dog is helped over the -stil® although the deligtful Nancy is not so engrossed in her calling that she ‘is unaware of the world of romance, ‘into Which she strays by an unexpected bypath of the world’s ways. In the sphere of domesticity and simplicity of not too impetuous ‘emotion, this pleasant tale of two pairs'of lovers‘may be recommended for its naive charm and obvious delight in‘man’s faithful four-footed friends. x * * "Plato S BRITANNIA," by Douglas Woodruff (Sheed and Ward, London), is an erudite, vivaciously- written chronicle, which discourses tangentially, and with considerable wit and wisdom, upon the British Empire, its present and future, its ways and works. -Old Socrates reviists a distracted world, and with illuminating and caustic comment to inquisitive coterie sheds fresh light on some of the problems that beset our country. Many aspects of English Contemporary life come under revealing serutiny, ranging from impressions of n Greek visitor at Oxford and Cambridge Universities to a dissertation on the Yorkshire dialect and a digression concerning the definition of a muchabused word. "A gentleman," decrees Socrates up to date, "is one who, haying power, is pleased to use it sparingly, and it is an Mnglishman’s idea of himself, It is an ideal wholly concerned with social life and a man’s relations to his fellows, and one which they are convinced needs money for complete fulfilment, so that they consider the-pos-session of money the larger part of. yirture." Mr, Woodruft’s amusing volumes, illuminating, didatic, and compact of an ironic humoyr, is recommended. for eatholicity and clarity of its sumimar. ised conclusions, ~

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Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/RADREC19320401.2.42.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 38, 1 April 1932, Unnumbered Page

Word count
Tapeke kupu
846

Book Notes Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 38, 1 April 1932, Unnumbered Page

Book Notes Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 38, 1 April 1932, Unnumbered Page

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