IMAGINATION—AND N.Z. HISTORY
A Book About Cook Strait That Carries The Punch Of Enthusiasm LATEST addition to the growing literature of New Zealand history is Stephen Gerard’s "Strait of Adventure," published this month by Reed. It tells the tale of Cook Strait end the lards and people about it. For some years now a trickle of books on local tradition has been coming steadily from various Dominion ‘publishing houses. All, or nearly all, have been sincere, slightly dull, and completely typical specimens of "historical journalism." "Strait of Adventure’ is different. In its mass of fact there is that vital spark of imagination in treatment which justifies the title and makes it excellent entertainment by any standards. You might "hate history," yet read it avidly. The same virtue has been only too notably absent in other books of the sort. HE author of "Strait of Adventure" is mighty fond of words-a profirable fault. He has never permitted his enthusiasm for subject matter to squeeze out for want of space a wild and woolly piece of descriptive writing. Not, mark you, that the facts are lacking. There are, to tell the truth, so many facts that much-too much --of significance is lost. For its frequent excitements, the book depends on the baldest and most cavalierly treated sensations-battle, bloodshed, labour and sudden death drawn liberally from the pages of more orthodox histories. Any one of a score of the stories told within Mr. Gerard’s madest 175 pages might well have provided the plot of a thriller replete in every page with action and disaster. WROM all this the reader may have gathered that I think well of "Strait of Adventure.’ I do: but not without qualification, The book’s virtues are its fast pace, its excellent descriptive work-particularly deseriptions of the sea-and its keen conyviection that New Zealand’s history is an adventurous and romantic history judged by whatever standards. Its faults are, frankly, literary faults that detract from the reader’s conviction and prevent him completely losing himself among the stirring people and stirring events with which his pages are rrowded to overflowing. There is a certain monotony of approach to each tale. "Now," in effect, says Mr. Gerard, "I will take you to a lookiut-fine view, isn’t it?-and there’s a story behind it... Listen... ." Adequate, this device, but f do not see technicians Like Morton and Curle using it,
In Mr. Gerard’s style there is, too, a, lack of restraint that lowers his highlights. Deletion of several thousand preliminary adjectives would have heightened my enjoyment of those juicy passages in which he really let himself go. "Strait of Adventure" will make its way in New Zealand when people get to know it, because it is an excellent gift book as well as being an amusing companion for the railway carriage. Such books must find their market in time. In this case I hope the author will write another-and for the market of the great wide world. He has the enthusiasm and, I believe, the pen to convince others about our romantic homeland, even if a second Rider Haggard would not shake us in the conviction if really is a dull little hackwater! BEST ONE-ACT PLAYS HAVE PURPOSE SIDE by side with the growth otf amateur dramatic societies has advanced the popularity of one-act plays, once as despised it literary circles as a punster among men of wit. . Even now, it is doubtful whether the one-act play contributes much of lasting worth-limiting are the demands of the amateur societies alone. which require casts with plenty of women, and situations and dialogue that ean be handled effectively by novices. Nevertheless, as the output of plays increases, it is encouraging that the best of them strive for something more than the mere fulfilment of amateur Society needs, In the latest of J. W. Marriott’s sel-ections-which have come to be as look-ed-for as American digests--this general improvement, of theme rather more than technique, is parlicularly noticeable, Of the twelve plays in
the book, at least half carry a positive message-whether by a trumpet call or in a whisper. Most powerful is probably Sydney Box’s indictment against war, "Bring Mle My Bow;" with Avrom Greenbaum’s "The Bread of. Affliction," a slightly melodramic plea for the Jews, running it a close second, Of the remaining plays, Mare Oonnelly’s "Little David," unpublished excerpt from "Green Pastures" needs no comment. "The Holy Orown" by Hlise Aylen has an atmosphere and wistful beauty all its own. But "The Bears Nest" by Patricia M. Donahue and "Blessed Above Women," by Vincent Godefroy, are perhaps the finest of all. The former is a comedy of charming simplicity, and the second goes back to the Biblical story of Jael and Sisera for its theme (amateur societies, beware of elocutionary sing-songs when you come to this lyric dialogue). On the whole, the new Marriott selection may be criticised from the viewpoint of stage performance for a rather too sombre tone. But as dramatie lite erature it is a hopeful augury for the development and influence of the one act form. "The Best One-Act Plays of 1937," selected by J. W. Marriott. (Harrap, Lon- don). Our copy from the publishers. LOVE STORY READS LIKE SCENARIO JOR circulating library readers who, like Alice, prefer their books with "plenty of conversation," Countess Barcynska’s » latest novel, "Hearts for Gold," . will be a safe and pleasant choice. It is a lightsome trifle, skilfully built round the wholesome, if. rather impossible, tale of a world's" champion boxer turned evangeli-
cal preacher in the Welsh village of his birth. There, in a Jeffrey Farnol setting, his romance with a decorative film star whom he had insulted-but who is now also reformed-develops very charmingly and unselfishly on both sides, Naturally, there are troubles and some (lirty work is done, but in the end there is general repentance and a moral life is lived by all. Incidentally, if cunning Hollywood producers could make the religious theme convincing to this naughty world, "Hearts for Gold" would seem excellent fodder for the scenario-writers. The tasy-flowing and sometimes humorous dinlogue, the simplicity of the motives behind action, above all the alternate play upon laughter and tears, make the hook read more often like a shooting ssript than a literary work. One can imagine boxer Roddy Gwynn being very effectively brought to shadow life hy the broad-shouldered Joel McCrea. All in all, "Hearts for Gold" is a good-hearted and moving little tale, not for a minute to be taken seriously and with plenty of faults, but good company, nevertheless, for an hour or two, "Hearts for Gold,’ by Countess Bareynska, (Hutchinson and Co., Ltd., London). Our copy from the publishers. ee |
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Radio Record, 27 May 1938, Page 33
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1,111IMAGINATION—AND N.Z. HISTORY Radio Record, 27 May 1938, Page 33
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