Reviews.

Two recent publications from the house of Hutchinson (London), which are sure of big sales in New Zealand relate to the present and the late King. “George the Faithful,” edited, and with a preface by Sir Philip Gibbs, is a wonderful survey in story and picture of the life and times of the late King. While the story is an intimate one of Royalty it gains in interest and historical value through being closely wrapped up in the stirring events of the reign. The pictures, all beautifully reproduced on art paper, are also an all embracing record of the period. None the less interesting is “Our Ambassador King,” being a study by Basil Maine (with a foreword by Sir Harry Brittain) of His Majesty King Edward Viii. Here we have revealed to us in a striking manner the adventurous life of the young King and the secret of his amazing popularity. This book is also profusely illustrated. While monarchies have fallen throughout the world since the Great War the unswerving loyalty to the British throne remains. The secret of this loyalty, we understand, perhaps more fully, after reading these two volumes.

Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. are the New Zealand agents.

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“A Century of Historical Stories,” edited by Rafael Sabatini (Hutchinson, London; Whitcombe & Tombs, New Zealand Agents) gives us in a series of colourful verbal tapestries the famous romances of the centuries. ith the masterful Sabatini in charge, thirty-five leading authors take part in the historical pageant of over 1000 pages. The fact that Hector Bolitho and Jack Lindsay (son of Norman Lindsay) are represented is of particular interest to us on this side of the world. The former supplies an exquisitely phrased story of the love of Queen Victoria for Prince Albert, and the latter a powerful story of the Roman theatre. Among the other authors represented in the collection are Charles Dickens, Harrison Ainsworth, R.L.S., Lance Lytton and many other leading writers, past and present.

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“Damballa Calls,” by Hans Possendor (Hutchinson, London; Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd., New Zealand Agents) is a story of love and hate in the negro republic of Haiti. While the reader will be gripped with the plot of the story, a most unusual one, he will also be keenly interested in the pictures given of life in that remarkable island and of the thread of historical incident interwoven. The author is called “the Edgar Wallace of Germany,” and has some thirty novels to his credit. He has travelled extensively and has certainly made great use of his sojourn in Haiti.

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“The Rocky Road to Jericho,” by Frank Chester Field (Phillip Allan. London; Whitcombe & Tombs, New Zealand Agents) is a love story of the early days of Mormonism in America. Naturally it is somewhat overloaded with sex, yet the author's sincerity asks pardon for the offence. Mormonism is analysed fearlessly and with obvious good intent. The reader is left with a vivid picture of the early days of America, a feeling that the wives and sweethearts have rather swamped the story, but with an understanding as to why religious fervour may cause a circle of otherwise normal folk to gather at a street corner and proclaim their souls to an interested and amused audience. The hero, Martin Parkham, is splendidly portrayed.

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“Murder Pie” (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is certainly correctly titled. It is the story of six murders, each one intimately related to the other, and is told by sixteen leading Australian writers. It is by no means such a gruesome and unpalatable pie as it may seem. The crust of the literary styles is crisp and appealing, and there is meat—the rich, juicy meat of sensationalism below. The whole idea is carried out in a most “un-morguelike” manner and yet the novel is crammed full of excitement. Miss J. L. Ranken commits the first murder, in most convincing style, in the opening chapter. Subsequent to a 'varsity psychology lecture at which pertinent questions relative to instinct and premonitions are put to the lecturer, a murder occurs in the 'varsity grounds. Then the various writers of the book, each contributing successive chapters, pile excitement upon excitement and murder upon murder until the last chapter arrives, and Mrs. N. Brennan is faced with the unravelling of the tangle of crime which she explains with logical celerity. The atmosphere and characterisations are well sustained. It is a book I can recommend and you will observe from my notes, that whereas I am a very charitable reviewer, I do not always recommend.

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