Robin Hyde — Journalist Unmuzzled

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 20, 30 November 1934, Page 19

Robin Hyde — Journalist Unmuzzled

"Journalese," a Clever Book by a Well-known New Zealand Poetess and Journalist — Foundation of Victoria University College- ) New Books in London.

OBIN HYDBH is the pen name which conceals the identity of Miss Iris Wilkinson from the uninitiate. Better known to the general public for her poetry, she has none the Jess made for herself 2 name as a journalist-regn-. Jar and free lance-and in her book "Journalese" she tells of many of her journalistic experiences. The book is episodical and racy; the quickly changing scene lit by the pointed fire of apt phrases. The sentences are short; the style is direct: the interest is never ailowed to flag. Miss Wilkinson casts off the shackles of restraint and says. directly a good many things that might Make a newspaper proprietor purse his lips. This is all to the good-the journalist unmuzzled always has a lot of truth to bring to the light of day. And what truth! The "low-down" on _ faithhealers and "spookologists,"’ bits of semi-scandalous politics, news items. plus unpublished comments. And through it all that little quirk of illusion and fairy fancy which first made Itobin Hyde’s name known to the New Zealand public. If ever av avocation were de@tructive of illusion, it is journalism. Miss Wilkinson has retained "hers and at the same time kept her eyes wide open. Merely a matter of looking on both sides of the question-but what a2 lot of wisdom that calls for! Of local interest is the fact that the book is packed with local personalities. Mr. Peter Fraser, Mr. J. H Hall, Lord Jellicoe, "Dolores," Mrs. Margaret Macpherson, Mr. E. C. Huie march arm in arm across the pages. And we see their weaknessery as well as their strengths. Frankness and fairness make this a charming book cleverly constructed. "Journalese," by Robin Hyde, Nationat Printing Co., Auckland. Our copy from the publishers "THIRTY-FIVE years ago Victoria University College was founded in Wellington, and this year particular inrerest has been focused on that date by the presentation to ihe college of portraits of the four foundation professors, which ceremony took plave on May 5. To commemorate this. the 19384 number of "The Spike,’ the college magazine, has been made a foundation number; this year greater stress has been laid on bistorica! matter, and there is less attention than usual devoted. to literary work. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor it hag been possible to reduce the price of the special issue, and sn endeavour has been made to make it a. record of the last 35 years that will be of interest and value to al] students, past and present. _ . Though less space than usua: has been available, there are some excellent literary contributions, both prose and verse, and worthy of special mention is the splendid photograph-

"Racilis Est Descensus Averni," by R. S. Odell. , This is an excellent attempt at a composition photograph, light and shade have been weil balanced, aim, apart from a slight confusion of shad-

ing in places, it is a remarkably fine piece of work. Notes on the various college clubs are also given a place in the magazine. EST sellers in London at present are Lloyd George’s "War Memoirs," Dean Inge’s "Vaie." and John Buchan’s biography, "Cromwell." Other books in brisk demand are A. A Milne’s "Peace With Honour," J. C. Vowys’s very long "Antobiography." and "Naval Memoirs," by Sir Roger Keyes. In fiction the favourite is Ivor Brown’s new novel "Master Sanguine." but there is still a big demand for Richard Aldington’s "Women Must Work," and also for "The Taking of the Gry," by John Masefield, the Poet Laureate, "HNGLISH JOURNEY." J. B. Priestley’s popular book, which has met very great success everywhere, was described by the author as "a rambling but truthful account of what one

man saw and heard and felt and thought." xcept in one particular, this applies to the ‘""Huropean Journey" of Sir Philip Gibbs, which has just been published in England. Sir Philip, unlike Mr. Priestley, di¢ not travel alone. When he started, his party numbered three; at Sens, in France, they were joined by a fourth ; ‘in Switzerland, by a fifth. His book is a solo with an occasional chorus-a pook of travel, of serious inquiry, of personal reminiscence and anecdote. At one time the journey almost rezolves itself into a search for'a man whe does not complain of poverty, who will admit that he is doing well. "Fear of the future," Sir Philip concludes, "was the dominant thought in this anxious Europe of 1934" Scarcely less dominant in many quarters was the economic fear of Japan. THE second volume of Mr, Winston Churchill’s "Marlborough: His Life and Times," has now been published, A change’ hus been made since Mr. Churchill planzed the yook. He has found it impossib'e to compress the Duke’s "ten years of unbroken victory" into a single volume so a third and final one will appear next year. Nothing indicates better the significance of the events described 'bD the second volume than a comparison with the length of period deait with in the first. | Whereas the first covered fiftytwo years, the second covers only four. Of special importance «re the unpublished letters which Marlborough wrote to, his svife and his colleague, Godolphin. They are another exiinple of the superior eloquence and histesienl .. value of unofficial correspondence