Southern Romance

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 1 February 1935, Page 46

Southern Romance

By

New Zealand Writer

"THERE is again the pleasure of reviewing a book by another New Zealand writer. "And Shadows Flee" is a stirring tale of characters that move in a setting of a hundred years ago. It deals with the missionaries and their life and, in violent contrast, with : two people, a man and woman, both social outcasts. The woman is a beautiful escaped convict who, when only a girl, was innocently convicted of theft. It re-. quires but little imagination to guess what happened to the innocent and beautiful During her sentence at. Port Jackson the authority in charge, Stephen Blundell, kept her as.his mistress. Several times she tried to- escape her life of horror and at last she and her only friend, an aged man’ who was also an innocent convict, managed to get away on.a boat to New Zealand. On the voyage her friend died, and the drunken sailors tried to claim her. During: the excitement of landing and the crew’s preoccupation with Maori women, Margaret escaped from their clutches and fléd into the forest. She was found there by Paul Renton, the son of missionaries, who immediately fell in love with her. Margaret confessed her past, which naturally was enough to shock’ the ; narrow-minded Paul, who thought that a girl should prefer to die rather — than be compelled to live that kind of life. Much to the pain of Paul’s parents he decides‘to marry Margaret, but she decides that John Herapath, the outcast pakeha-Maori, is her greater friend, especially when Blundell appears on the: scene in pursuit of her. There is no "beating about the bush" in the facts of this story. Every-

thing is worded in stark truth, | yet withal there is a beauty of setting and -a rare insight tothe natures of the characters, especially when John, after being shown the branded "C" of convict on Margaret’s back, put his arm gent'v about her, and, stooping, kissed the scar. MARTEN STUART, the author of this powerful nove’. is, in private life, Mrs. Walter Scott, who was until recently librarian at Te Awamutu Public Library while her children were being educated. She

has lived the best and happiest years of her life in the. backblocks. Two years after taking her degree at the Auckland University Marten Stuart married. She went into the backblocks, and for the first 10 years really was a pioneer-40 miles from town with clay roads and pack-horse stores. She has now once more retired to the solitude of the country, which she loves so dearly. ‘Radio Record" readers are familiar with ‘the name of Marten Stuart, who has written stories for the "Radio Record" and "Radio Record Annual." Marten Stuart is also "Anon" of the "Herald," "M.E.S." of the "Auckland Star" and some southern evening papers. Her articles are always popular because they have that human touch., Marten, Stuart has also written for Home papers, particularly the "Manchester Guardian," whose late literary editor, the novelist, Alan Monkhouse, always took a great and kindly interest in her work. "And Shadows Flee" should appeal to many people, especially those who read Marten Stuart’s first novel, "Where the Apple Reddens," which was very favourably received and hinted at better things to come, a promise: which has been: fulfilled: in "When Shadows Flee." The authoress frankly ad- mits that "Where the Apple Reddens" was written to get published and sell, as it is so hard for a New Zealander to get.a foothoid at Home. It is a story of the west coast life of the North Island,-where Marten Stuart has lived and knows so well. It was not intena- _ ed that this story

should be characteristic of New Zealand, but nevertheless, it is still true to that part... A characteristic New Zealand novel, will ‘not sell at . Home. _The second novel, "And Shadows Flee," has as its setting the neighbourh 0 o d of. Russell in the old missionary days of 1823. Marten Stuart was born there, where her people came as Marsden’s = missionaries, so apart from her writing being imaginative and entertaining, it is sympathetic and convincing. Published by Hurst and Blackett.. ©