Because of the phenomenal demand for Hector Bolitho's “Edward VIII,” initial supplies of the book were sold out in a few hours in the New Zealand bookshops that had placed first orders. It was only a few weeks ago, therefore, that I managed to secure a copy, and the legend on the jacket was “40th Thousand—Seventh Impression,” probably the first time that any New Zealand author has reached such a huge sale. For this reason alone Bolitho may smile serenely at the storm of criticism and abuse that his book has provoked in some quarters. In the opinion of this critic Bolitho may smile also in the secure knowledge that he has written a notable book with singular sincerity and the restraint that decency would command in writing on such a delicate subject. I know Bolitho possibly more intimately than many people in this part of the world, but although I know him I have not allowed friendship to obscure my vision. I can, however, understand more clearly his point of view. I believe in his sincerity, and I believe also that any intelligent unbiassed reader of the book will admit this sincerity.

Eyre and Spottiswoode, of London, are the publishers.

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It is not necessary to be an artist to be an expert in showcard and ticket writing. Actually, many artists are by no means proficient at lettering; even when they are, they prefer to leave the lettering side of it to the underlings or hacks. For these reasons “The Key Lettering Book” just published by Angus & Robertson should have a very wide appeal. In most branches of commercial life, even in domestic life, the man or woman who shows an aptitude for lettering will find many opportunities for doing useful work. The book by Herbert Newell (it has a foreword by Walter Jardine) instructs in this useful art in a plain practical manner. Having read it, I am now revelling in one of the most interesting hobbies I have taken up for a long time.

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I must confess that I always view with some distrust and distaste any book purporting to provide the key to personality for success in the business or social world. I am particularly sceptical when the “personality book” is of American origin. I must admit, however, that “Charm,” by Margery Wilson, an Australian edition of which has been published by Angus and Robertson, has completely captured my interest and sympathy, although it was published first in the States. This book is going to do a tremendous amount of good among those who read it in this part of the world. It is sound, practical, sincere and well-written. In short, the author tells us how to create or to increase the charming personality that extracts the best out of others and out of ourselves. It is a good book, too, for it preaches in the most “unpulpit-like” fashion that greatest of all virtues, charity. Actually charity is a synonym for charm. A most helpful book this. Appropriately, the publishers have printed “Charm” in a most charming manner.

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Do any of my readers know anything about a magazine entitled “The Forerunner,” which was printed in Havelock North about a quarter of a century ago? The other day I came across No. 18 of this publication, and was deeply interested in its excellent verse and prose, and its artistic format. Among its contributors was Dick Harris, the New Zealand poet.

An interesting item during a recent auction sale of books in Wellington was the manuscript of Lieut.-Col. Porter's diary, dating from 1869 to 1871. Lieut.-Col. Porter was author of “The Life and Times of Major Ropata Wahawa.” The bidding commenced at 5/- (whereat the auctioneer smiled broadly), and rose to £3/15/-, when the MSS. was knocked down to the Turnbull Library.

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It was only the other day that I discovered that Ernest Dowson the tragic poet of the ‘nineties, who in many characteristics reminds me of our own poet, the late Dick Harris, was related to Alfred Domett, one time Prime Minister of New Zealand and author of “Ranolf and Amohia” and other poems.

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Copies of New Zealand books signed by the authors are being keenly sought after by collectors. In their latest catalogue of New Zealand and Australian books, Kealy's Ltd., the well known Auckland bookshop, a section is devoted to books autographed by New Zealand writers.

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A German translation of James Cowan's book of South Sea stories and sketches, “Suwarrow Gold,” published by Jonathan Cape last year, is to be issued shortly. The London publishers have sold the German rights to a publishing house in Leipzig on the author's behalf.

page 55

Reviews.

“Water Into Gold,” by Ernestine Hill (Robertson & Mullens, Melbourne) is the appropriate title of a remarkably interesting story of the grand old river Murray. From the early days when the Murray knew only the bark canoes of the aboriginals to the present day when the pluck and enterprise of man has linked the river with the magic of irrigation, transforming arid country into prosperous cities and towns, the author traces the fascinating story of the Murray. We meet the intrepid Stuart, the first to navigate the waters; we see the quaint old paddle steamers following in his wake; we meet the Charley brothers; the great Alfred Deakin and others who utilised the Murray to make one of the greatest irrigation schemes in the world, and then the miracle of transforming Murray waters into the gold of the fruits of the soil. Along the way, too, we meet such spectacular people as De Garis, Grant Hervey and others. Every page of this fine volume is as interesting as a modern novel, but of enduring value. Over one hundred and thirty splendid illustrations are contained in the book, which is a credit to the publishers.

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“Legend for Sanderson” (Angus & Robertson), by Vance Palmer, is one of the best novels yet written by the popular Australian author, and also is a notable psychological study. It is a tale of the North, as they call it in Australia. We meet the clever old scoundrel Sanderson, paying the inevitable penalty for his years of dissipation, and with only one real friend, the woman he lives with. After his tragic passing we come to his son Neil who has his father's dominating character without its frailties. And we see the tortures of his mind as he fights the ever present shadow of his parent. We meet Besanck, his friend, a sardonic waster, also the lovable old builder Peter and his wayward daughter, Freda. From the torrid atmosphere of the canefields we journey among the Barrier Islets. Always the author is weaving his absorbing story, and like the expert surgeon of words that he is, always busy with his knife on the souls and minds of his characters. An unusual and striking novel.

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“The Awakening,” by Capt. G. D. Mitchell, M.C., D.C.M. (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is by the author of that widely discussed war book, “Backs to the Wall.” In the latter book, Capt. Mitchell dealt with actuality, the Great War. In his latest book he discusses possibility, or is it probability? A red day dawns in Australia in 1938. A foreign invader appears and rains death and destruction from land, sea and air on the coastal towns and cities of Queensland and New South Wales. There arises one John Cromwell, an exmajor of the A.I.F., then living in North Queensland. Supported by a few comrades from the Great War, he organises a command consisting of farmers, bushmen and city folk. In desperate guerrila fashion they hold the invaders at bay, capturing much of their ammunition, guns and even tanks. How far they succeed is told in a gripping breathless story. As the Right Hon. W. M. Hughes observes in his introduction, the book is a lesson on unpreparedness.

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“Pollyanna” and “Pollyanna Grows Up,” by Eleanor H. Porter (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) are the first two of the Platypus Edition of the Pollyanna books. Pollyanna is known and loved by tens of thousands of readers the world over, and should gain many new admirers in this part of the world through the cheap compact edition now to hand from the well-known Australian publishing house. The story of Pollyanna is a wholesome and at times exciting one, appealing in the first place to the young woman of to-day, yet sufficiently appealing also to interest average readers of both sexes.

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“Crescendo,” by Eric de Mauny (Hand-Craft Press, Wellington), is a booklet of blank verse which is interesting because the author is striving to express himself. There is promise of better things to come. The young poet should have called his book “Prelude” — “Crescendo” might come later. This is the second booklet produced by the Hand-Craft Press, and is a big improvement in contents and format on ithe first, “Up to Sixteen,” by Lindsay M. Constable.

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Shibli Listens In.

A. N. Field, the author of the much discussed book, “The Truth About the Slump,” is now editor of an independent national monthly called “The Examiner.” It is a candid commentary on current events, and deals in a very thorough manner with economic problems.

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The proceedings of the P.E.N. Congress at Buenos Aires have been printed in a volume of 300 pages. Included is an address by Mr. Johannes C. Andersen (New Zealand delegate) on “The Future of Poetry.”

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Newbold's, the big secondhand booksellers of Dunedin, will publish another catalogue shortly. The previous list had such a wealth of bibliographic detail that it was soon out of print.