"RESTLESS EARTH"

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 9, 8 September 1933, Page 2

"RESTLESS EARTH"

First Novel from Auckland Company’s Presses +

"Restiess Earth." 2 novel by

W.

Graeme

Holder (Auckland: AS-

sociated N.Z. Authors’ Publishing Company).

This is the first of a series of books by New Zealand authors which this enterprising company has been formed to publish, It is high time that such 2 venture was made in this country; it would be ridiculous, in the face of overseas opinions, to assert that we have not the talent to support the com-

pany; over here we have too long been prepared to take for granted the fact that we had no literary talent available, and when any New Zealander succeeded overseas it has been regarded as something of a miracle. Itgis to be hoped that the new company will change all this. It certainly deserves to succeed if "Restless Darth" is a sample of the work which they have in store for us. The story takes place at the time of the. Napier earthquake, and deals with its effect on the lives of three peo-ple-James Harley, an author, his wife, Grace, and the "other woman" -Patricia Weybourn. The plot is an old one, but Mr. Holder’s handling of it is certainly original, and he has a vivid power of description which, though it. seems to run away ‘With him at times, gives a freshness to his book

which is only too often altogether lacking in the work of better-known authors. The descriptions of Napier and Hastings immediately after the disastrous shake are extremely good. The characters are well drawn, for the most part, the tragic figure of Pat Weybourn being exceptionally well done; another. delightful portrait is that of Mrs. Quesne (nee Queenie) Langham, am inveterate social climber, the author giving a telling indictment of some of the more objectionable portions of New Zealand society. The book is one of the most delightful that has come my way for a considerable time, -and it is fully equal to the best overseas,work, a book everyone should read, and I am going to read it again myself immediately,