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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 10 (January 1, 1938.)

Reviews

Reviews.

“Over the Range,” by Ion L. Idriess (Angus and Robertson, Sydney) is as good, if not better, than most of the books written by this supremely popular Australian author. A few years ago Mr. Idriess accompanied a Nor'-West Mounted Police Patrol on a 1,200 mile journey through one of the wildest areas left in the Australian Continent—that north of the King Leopold Range. This is the story of page 55 the adventures and impressions of a most remarkable journey. The book is a powerful one because it is written with such simple sincerity. Herein is the secret of the universal appeal of Idriess. His books have sold in tens of thousands (the first printing of the one under review is 10,000) for this very reason. Idriess has a deep and sympathetic understanding of the Australian aboriginal, and in this book he gives new and absorbingly interesting pictures of them. He laments the dying off of these “last stone-age men.” He records the fact that although the journey he describes was made only in 1933, a surprising number of the aboriginals he met during the trip have since died. “Time,” he says, “is wiping the aboriginal from the face of the earth.” The book contains 76 illustrations. It is so interesting that it can be read again and again.

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“What Ho!” by Richard Connell (Robert Hale, London), introduces us to a delightful hero, Ernest Bingley, a romantic taxidermist. By stuffing enough birds and beasts Bingley manages to stuff his bank account to sufficient dimensions to visit Bingley Castle, to the residents of which he claims an “astronomical” relationship. His subsequent adventures make lively and entertaining reading. I understand that the book has been “talkieised” with Gary Cooper as Bingley.

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“White Poppies,” by Carl Warburton (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) combines fact and fiction in a manner most interesting. Fact is provided in the gripping picture of life and of nature in the Northern Territory of Australia, which the author knows so well. Fiction is wrapped up in the exciting story of two young cattle raisers who, discouraged by ill-fortune and State apathy, are tempted by a wily Chinaman into growing white poppies for the manufacture of opium. They select a hidden land beyond mysterious mountains. Their guide is a lovable old aboriginal T'Kala. A thread of love interest runs through this exciting and finely written story.

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“Hauhauism,” by S. Barton Babbage (A. H. & A. W. Reed, Dunedin and Wellington), is an important addition to our national historical library. The author's account of this religion, or cult, one of the most interesting episodes of the Maori wars, is embellished with copious quotations from historical documents. The book also includes an extensive bibliography, and is illustrated with maps and pictures. Every student of New Zealand will want a copy of this valuable little work.

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“The Enchanted Kiwi,” by Alice Kenny (the Hand-Craft Press, Wellington), is a charming, delightfully written phantasy, with an atmosphere redolent of this country. It will appeal to young and old. Miss Kenny is a well-known New Zealand writer, being the author of two novels and a contributor to many journals at Home and abroad. The booklet is illustrated by Lindsay M. Constable.

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