A COLUMN FOR BOOKLOVERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2752, 5 March 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

A COLUMN FOR BOOKLOVERS.

“ For a Jolly Good Book, whhreon to look, Is BETTER TO ME THAN GOLD,”

It is the purpose of the writer of this eoburnt t© remark briefly on tho various books of the. day as they niako their appearance. Want of space and difficulties in tho way of procuring books will necessarily limit uhe number of actual reviews (or rather notes) that can be made, but an attempt will certainly be made to let the readers -of the- “Gisborne Times” know what is tho latest thing in the world of books. Among the best novels that have appeared recently are Mr. H. G. Wells’ “Ann Veronica,” a book that lias probably caused more comment and critic_ ism (favorable and otherwise) than any other novo] that has recently appeared • Mr. Robert Hicliens’ “Bella Donna, which was eagerly welcomed by the countless admirers of this writer’s excellent work; Mr. R. W. Chambers’ “The- Danger Mark,” of the type made popular bv its author iu “The. Younger Set;” and Mr. William do Morgan’s “It. Never Can,- Happen Again.” Any work hearing the name of any of li’.ise authors could hardly fail of success, though possibly in no: case has the author succeeded in surpassing himself. Sir Ernest Shackleton’s two large volumes on liis Antarctic expedition, “The Heart of the Antarctic.” is a noteworthv publication, and important in many ’ ways. In poetry, Mr. Thomas I-lard.y’s latest volume, “Time’s Laughing Stocks,” is creating great interest, and doing much to prove that its author is rising rapidly to as high a position am one our poets as he holds among our novelists. In autobiography we have that of the great explorer, Sir Henry Stanley, which possesses additional interest owing to its being edited and supplemented bv his wife. BOOKS NEW AND OLD, WORTH READING. “The Necromancers:” R. H. Benson (for all interested in nhychic matters). “England and the English:” Price Collier (a well-written, unbiassed and decidedly interesting study from an American point of view).

“Cabbages and Kings:” 0. Henry (perhaps the best of this clever writer s books. Anyone who does not know 0. Henry’s works had better make their acquaintance' at once). “Letters of Jennie Allen:” Grace Dorwortih (exceedingly clever, amusing, and original).

“The Land of Long Ago:”Eliza Calvert Hall. (Boston: Little, Brown and Co; Gisborne: Thomas Adams.)

In this dainty book we once more meet “Aunt Jane of Kentucky,” for whom her creator has already secured a place- in the hearts of many readers. It is quite easy to believe that so charming a portrait must be drawn from life; a conversation with a delightful old lady is a most enjoyable thing, and a series of conversations with a particularly de lightful oue, when well and simply told, makes a most enjoyable book. Aunt Jane’s reminiscences of old Kentucky days, as related by her niece, are most fascinating. The old lady talks in her plain, homely speech, and the lingering, roundabout style that old ladies delight in, and her talk reproduces the quaint gossip of a quiet country town, where the simple lives of the people provide as much scope for comedy and tragedy as the more exciting lives of dwellers in great cities. Her homely, shrewd remarks are all amusing and sometimes striking. She comments on the vexed question of the advantages of'a large family. “There’s such a-thing uow-a-days as** a woman havin’ so many children she hasn’t time to be a mother, but that’s ai point that men don’t consider.” Tbe niece who unobtrusively acts as chronicler to Aunt Jane is herself by no means uiiinterest. jug. Here is a quotation from a pretty description of a flower garden: —“Every odour is to me as a note of music, and'l know the discords and harmonies iu the long-long scale of perfume. I know that heliotrope and mignonette make a dissonance, and heliotrope and tea-roses a perfect third; that there is a chord of melody in heliotrope, tearose* and honeysuckle.” The idea may be new' to some, but not to genuine lovers of flowers. “The Smiths of Surbition:” Keble Howard. (London: Chapman and Hall; Gisborne: Thomas Adams.) The author describes this book as “acomedy without a plot,” and it certainly is a true description. This story of two simple lives, which are, perhaps, rather impossibly simple and happy, is really interesting mainly because of the. writer’s genuine humor and light, yet realistic touch. Perhaps one of the best things is the dedication:—“To thoso who, though born protesting, are determined to make the best of a bad job and die smiling.” “Potted Brains:” Iveble. Howard and John Hassall. (London: Stanley Paul and Co; Gisborne: Thomas Adams.)

A clever parody is always a most delightful thing, and here we have a really good one. It was only to be expected that tiie recent publication) of an attempt to compass, all literary knowledge into a shortened form should be parodied, and! “Potted Brains” is the result. The little paper-covered book is foil of genuine humor under a guise of mock solemnity. The authors guarantee that alter a- perusal of it no one will any longer be. at a disadvantage when the names of tihoso whose works we feel w r e ought to know about, but don’t, are mentioned in our presence. A page is then devoted to each famous author, from Aristotle to Keble Howard and John Hassall themselves A sample (apropos of Plato) gives a better idea of this clever . little book than' anything that can he said about it. “Students of Plato,” we are told, “(beginning tlieir experiments with an imperfect- grasp of liis theories, have invariably ended with a very thorough grasp.,of each 'otherNo one should miss reading this clever parody. “The Sorcery Shop:” Robert Blntcliford. (London: The Clarion Press; Gisborne : Thomas Adams.) _ . . Criticism’ of a severe nature is disarmed when the author’ announces at the. very beginning that his work is an impossible dream of an impossible place. Anything issued by the Clarion Press may be expected to be of a revolutionary nature, and the. present publication does not- disappoint expectation in this respect. It is more than Utopian, it is more than “tli'o stuff that dreams are made on,” and, if this is the kind of dream that Socialists > indulge, iii they must indeed be optimistic if they have the faintest idea, that it may ever become reality. Certainly the England of the vision would bin an ideal place—too ideal for comfort: there would, indeed, ns the implacable Mr. Jorld© remarks. be a great monotony about it. Tho ideas and'their treatment are interesting, but can hardly be taken seriously except' by the most ardent Socialists.