Reviews.

“A Century of Love Stories,” edited by Gilbert Frankau (Hutchinson, London) will, I think, be the best seller of the “Century Omnibuses.” Where is the man or the woman who does not love a love story? No page 55 doubt there are some “superior” folk who consider themselves above such human frailty. Yet I can see them furtively reading through the wonderful tales in this wonderful volume and ready to confess that here at least is an exquisite art in the telling. The editor of the collection has made an admirable selection. Being a short story enthusiast I thought I would meet in the volume many old favourites, but the majority of the tales are new to me. I have enshrined them all in my literary temple of Venus, “Pam's Party” by Denis Mackail, a delicate little “true to life” etching; “The Fury” (Paul Heyse) a tempestuous love idyll from Italy; “Semolina” by Horace Annesley Vachell, wherein the heart and the stomach fight an intensely human drama; “The English Tutor” (Percival Gibbon), one of the strangest love stories ever written—these are only a few of the 46 stories contained in these 1024 pages.

“A Century of Sea Stories” is another worthy edition to the library of Century Omnibuses. And what more worthy editor, than Rafael Sabatini. Such a volume as to make Cook's Tours look very small indeed. Here we have a saloon ticket (return) to any country in the world. If your tastes are for a Spanish galleon, a brigantine, a speed launch or a sumptuous modern liner it is all the same. You embark and meet the most weird and fascinating companions. Sometimes you may ship with bloodthirsty buccaneers but you are always observing them from a safe distance. The whole series of trips are so discreetly arranged for the reader, and with such famous sea writers as guides (Conrad, R.L.S., Herman Melville, Max Pemberton, Edgar Allan Poe, etc.) we are surely in the best of company. A great volume of 1024 pages with its 53 stories.

“Far Caravan,” by E. V. Timms (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) confirms my opinion that Mr. Timms is one of the most ambitious novelists Australia has produced. This, I think, is his fifth novel. His development is remarkable. In this book he deals with a period in history practically unexplored by the novelist. His pen travels over the vast area of Russia of a few centuries ago when the people were being torn asunder by a mighty religious conflict between the old and the new. He places the old eight pointed cross of the Orthodox Church in the hands of a mad, lovable old fellow named Dmitri Zalka, who gathers around him the adherents of the old faith. They travel across the wild and often desolate country like a mighty snowball—on, on to Moscow. Interwoven is the glorious romance of Narelle and Bertrand. The story simply teems with action. Small wonder that such a huge canvas lacks in composition.

“Man Tracks,” by Ion L. Idriess (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is another worthy addition to the Idriess library of true adventure stories of Australia. Here we travel with the Mounted Police through the Australian wilds in search of lawbreakers. His facts have been carefully assembled from those who took part in the desperate man hunts he tells of. An engrossing novel of adventure—real life adventure. Price 6/-.

“Insect Wonders of Australia,” by Keith C. McKeown (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is a popular book on the life stories of Australian insects. Possibly the unusual prevalence of mosquitoes during our recent record summer may develop an “insect-mind” among New Zealanders. After reading this book there should be no doubt about the earlier development of such a mentality in Australia. The Commonwealth has an insect family that is truly immense. Mr. McKeown, who is Assistant Entomologist to the Australian Museum, is on familiar terms with the whole tribe and introduces them to us in turn, producing the family album of portraits to illustrate his story. Price 6/-.

“Famous Trials,” by the First Earl of Birkenhead (Hutchinson, London) incorporates in a single volume at a popular price (6/-) his two noteworthy books, “Famous Trials of History” and “More Famous Trials,” both of which books ran into many editions within a few months of publication. This “Omnibus” must have a record sale incorporating as it does the outstanding criminal and civil trials of the last few centuries. Quoting the introduction: “Here is mankind under the microscope, the raw materials of fifty novels fashioned into glittering gems of narrative and character drawing.” The tragic parade of such notorieties as Charles Peace, Burke, and Hare, Landru, etc., makes an engrossing series.