New Zealand Literary World Throbs With Activity

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 46, 24 May 1935, Page 22

New Zealand Literary World Throbs With Activity

This page to-day is devoted to accounts of the activities of New Zeuland writers, The "Radio Record" hus long nade @ point of encouraying New Zealand talent, whether musical or literary, and, from tine to time this page will be given over to details of the Dominion’s acorld of letters, GIRL WHO PLAYED HAMLET TRUE Christchurch writer, Ngaio Marsh, has had her second uoyel, "Huter a Murderer," published in IugJund. It has been extremely well reviewed in the British papers. Her third book, written in collaboration With Dr. Henry Jellett, the author of several standard medical works, has just been sent off to the publishers, It has a medical background and is largely concerned with « surgical operation. At the moment Miss Marsh is at work on a fourth novel. A great deal of her time has been taken up lately with rehearsals for the broadcast of Hamlet, which took place a week or two ago from 3YA. MULGAN’S NEW BOOK ’ "THE Oxford University Press bas on’ hand the latest manuscript from the pen of Alan Mulgan, wellknown writer and literary editor of the "Auckland Star." This book is to be, in a sense, a companion to "Home"

(considered to be the finest piece of literature written by a New Zealander) in that Mr. Mulgan attempts an iuterpretation of his own country. It is to be a large book, printed in fine type and illustrated by a considerable number of ecarefully-picked photographs. There is to be a coloured frontispiece by Rata Lovell-Smith of a South Islund seene, and a jacket of a North Island scene py Arnold Goodwin, the Auckland artist. he title of the book has not actually been fixed, but it will probably be "A DPilgrim’s Way in New Zealand." . DUNEDIN LETTERS. SOME three years ago an enterprising young Wellingtonian, Mr. N. F. {loggard, started a small literary paper, "Spilt Ink." As a result of this enterprise a number of small groups haye been formed in various centres, the members of which are subscribers io "Spilt Ink." ‘This paragraph is coneerned with’ the activities of the Dunedin group. Mr. W. W. Bridgman. whose verse is frequently to be seen in print, is shortly leaving for Hngland is the holder of a Carnegie Tellowship. Mr. Phillip Nevill, another member, has twice won the Macmillan Brown prize for verse. His theme on the first occasion was an old Viking. and on the second "Speed." Miss Edith Howes has been present ai one

or two meetings. Readers will not need to be told that Miss Howes is the writer of a number of books in which biology and romance are skilfully combined. Mr, C, R. Allen is the author of three published novels, and has completed a novel of New Zealand life, which at the moment is waiting to take its chance in a competition in Australia. Mr. Allen has written a number of lyrics. some of which have been sect to music, ABOUT PERCY CRISP A NEW ZEALANDER whose journalistic suecess in WEngland is varied by excursions to "furrin parts," many and curious, is Percy Crisp, former editor of the "Auckland Sun." At time of hearing, he wag off for Albania, Last year’s adventure was in Lappland, and-one need never be surprised if the next is Timbuctoo. Mr. Crisp is as genial as ever, and still takes a kindly interest in New Zealand letters. 16-YEAR-OLD GLORIA A¥UREADY at the proof stages are the »noems of Glorig Rawlinson. which were accepted for publication a short time ago by the English firm. Wutchinson and Company. Aithough the authoress is only sixteen, some remarkable and promising poems will be found in this collection. Gloria’s first book of poems, a charming fairytale collection, appeared a little more than wi year ago, being published by Whitcombe and Tombs, and achieved a distinct suecess. BACK FROM EUROPE [AN DONNELLY, associate editor of the "Christchurch Sun," returned to New Zealand last week after q year in Burope. While he was abroad Mr. Donnelly had the pleasure of seeing his first book published. It is ealled "The Joyous Pilgrimage,’ and it contains accounts of meetings he had with famous people-J. H. Thomas, Aldous Huxley, Gracie Fields, G. K. Chesterton, Laurence Binyon, and a heap of others every bit as interesting. "The Joyous Pilgrimage" is now on its way to New Zealand and will shortly be reviewed in the ‘Radio Record." "CHECK TO YOUR KING" ROBIN . HYDE, after completing "Check To Your King," a biography of the old Baron de Thierry, who raised such storms in the early New Zealand teacups, turned to a biography of different order, and has completed the draft of "Bronze Outlaw," the story of a New Zealand soldier whose war-time career included, among other things, three recommendations for the V.C. and nine courts-martial. Bomber J. D. Stark, the principal figure in an authentic tale of prisons and battles, is halfRed Indian half-Spaniard, and lives now ju Auckland. "Bronze Outlaw." like the "Trader Horn" geries, is compiled from the stories of the leading character, When finished, the book will be posted off to England or America.