One of the most interesting events in the local literary world this year is the appearance of “Tales by New Zealanders,” an anthology published by the British Authors’ Press. C. R. Allen, who has edited the collection, has every reason to feel pleased with the results of his long labours. The volume is nicely produced, it has a flattering foreword by Sir Hugh Walpole and has an imposing list of contributors. The last-mentioned include Hector Bolitho, G. B. Lancaster, Eileen Duggan, Will Lawson, John H. Lee, Nelle Scanlan, Alan Mulgan, Edith Howes, and “Robin Hyde.” Now all this sounds impressive, but how do the stories line up to it all? Generally speaking they are of a high standard, two or three are exceptionally so, and only a few are just ordinary. There is a freshness and sincerity about most of the stories that must impress everybody. They have been drawn from many sources—“The Bulletin,” “The Triad,” “Art in New Zealand,” The “New Zealand Artists’ Annual,” “The Sydney Mail” and other journals known for their encouragement of short stories of quality. “The Truce,” by Una Craig, impressed me greatly. It is a fine piece of writing and almost a model short story. John Lee's “Of a Broken Heart” could take its place in almost any short story anthology. There is a fine dramatic touch about “Trails End,” by C. H. Fortune. “Rain From Heaven,” by Eileen Duggan, a strongly-welded story with an historical foundation, is also well worthy of mention. Two stories, one by Jean Bradwell and the other by Eric Bradwell, are excellent in their way but are spoiled in that they have an anticlimax built on the same theme and are unfortunately placed side by side in the collection. Young writers who stand out favourably in this collection are Gloria Rawlinson and Constance-Player Green. Any contributors not mentioned in this brief notice are omitted, not because of lack of merit, but owing to space limitations.

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Although it was published a few months ago it was not until recently that I had an opportunity of reading Dr. A. J. Harrop's “England and The Maori Wars,” a book of great importance and interest to this country. It is an imposing looking book of over 400 pages, is well illustrated and indexed, and contains a map of the Maori War areas. The jacket design, the work of F. H. Coventry, a young New Zealand artist who has found success abroad, is a striking piece of work. All this is very interesting when we know that the book is the first product of New Zealand News, London. It is certainly a most impressive beginning. Dr. Harrop is the right man for this important literary undertaking. His style is clear and concise and his facts carefully presented. He examines England's policy during the Maori Wars and presents and analyses many important documents relating thereto. Theories of Imperial defence and colonial self-government are outlined, and we see the gradual development revealed. As the author inquires in his introduction—was it possible to throw on the colonists the onus of self-defence without cutting them off from the Motherland? Was it possible to include in Colonial self-government control of native races protected by Treaty with the Government? Was it worth while to retain colonies at all if they were to be almost entirely independent? These and other important questions are examined in the light of the historical evidence. The whole story, so well told, is a most interesting one.

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A strange book about strange people with a strange fascination about it all—this is Gloria Rawlinson's first novel “Music In the Listening Place.” At times the story is happy and at times wistful and occasionally sad, but it is always beautiful. Early in the story we glimpse the strong mind of Aroha Park as she regards the dead body of the village grocer swaying gently beneath the water below the six elderly willows by the river bank. To Aroha's fantastic mind the body doesn't seem at all sad or sorry for itself, “flapping its arm or dabbling its face in the water.”

Aroha is the daughter of the “mad Parks,” and as she wanders on through the pages studded with the beauties of Nature, we meet the oddest folk imaginable, from Calcutta Jim and his donkey to Jim Yen, Dr. Bird, Eagar, the funny little people who live in the mountain, and last but by no means least, Ranata, the irresistible Maori. They are all queer but lovable people. This is the most unusual book ever written in this country, and though it may not bring Gloria Rawlinson as many sales as her books of poems it will certainly add to her reputation as a writer of brilliant fancy.

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Reviews.

“With the Cameliers In Palestine,” by Major John Robertson (A. H. & A. W. Reed, Wellington and Dunedin), is one of the most interesting and valuable war books yet published in New Zealand. It tells the story of the New Zealand Companies of the Camel Corps during the campaign in Sinai and Palestine, and also contains much interesting information about the Holy Land. John Robertson, B.A., was Inspector of Schools in Otago when he joined the New Zealand page 55 land Expeditionary Force in 1915, and on his arrival in Egypt was posted to the Imperial Camel Brigade and later was appointed Assistant Director of Education to the New Zealand Force in Egypt. We can see, therefore, that he is well qualified to write this book and we can also see from the reading of his book that he is a keen observer and has a sense of humour. Take his chapter on the camel—in itself a delightful essay.

This section of the Great War is fascinating history and in this case has been ably and most carefully recorded and yet in a thoroughly readable style. There are many interesting illustrations and the general format a credit to the publishers. General Sir Harry Chauvel and Col. the Hon. Sir James Allen have written introductions.

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“Australian Marketing Problems,” by Professor D. B. Copland and C. V. Janes, is companion volume to Australian Trade Policy, published some time ago. It is a bulky volume overflowing with facts, figures and their analyses, all being supplemented with documentary lists and an index. It is really a book of documents from 1932 to 1937, several of which are made public for the first time. They are so complete and so clearly presented that the reader is in a position to view all sides of the problem. The operations of internal marketing schemes and the steps taken to discover a constitutional method of marketing are analysed. The joint authors are well fitted for the task they have so admirably completed.

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“Poems In Praise of Practically Nothing,” by Samuel Hoffenstein, is an American book of light verse of which Angus & Robertson Ltd., have produced an Australian edition. It is a very nicely produced book, it has run to nineteen editions in U.S.A. and certainly on a basis of lineage weighs out good value to the buyer (poets are not usually so liberal), yet in spite of this I cannot go into one edition of rapture over it, let alone nineteen. I must be wrong, for look at the tens of thousands of buyers in U.S.A., but I must be sincere. For your own information let me tell you that if you like that cute and obviously smart light verse that you would like to ripple off odd lines of at a cocktail party, then by all means buy this book. Samuel Hoffenstein is a deft and adroit rhymster and no doubt will appeal to many on this side of the world.

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“Derelict,” by Joseph Shaw (Angus & Robertson, Sydney), is one of the most exciting stories I have read. It is wildly improbable but the art of the author makes one forget this. He just carries you along in a headlong race of mystery, of violence, of romance and hairbreadth escapes. “Whizbang” Halliday, the leading character, is on board the s.s. “Maricopa.” One morning he awakes to find that he is apparently alone on a derelict ship. Four other people appear, two sinister figures and the others a beautiful girl and her mother. Tragedy looms over the ship and shortly threatens them all. Excitement piles on excitement until the reader is left almost breathless with the fierce pace of it all. One is left wondering how the author has kept up the amazing tempo.

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“Whaleman Adventurers,” by W. J. Dakin (Angus & Robertson, Sydney), is a new and revised edition of a work that is probably destined to remain the authoritative story of whaling in Australia, New Zealand and other Southern seas. While the book will be read with interest by everyone the world over, it has a particular interest to New Zealand. It shows that whaling was one of the biggest forces in those several influences that helped to lay the foundations of British colonies of the Southern Hemisphere. That the visits of whalers to New Zealand in the early days were not always a desirable factor in this development is evident from this book. Indeed, it gives rise to a most interesting line of thought to those who wish to study the history and development of New Zealand. The adventures of the whaleman make a story stranger, sometimes, than fiction. Also there is a detailed account of the technical side of whaling, while the historical side provides immense food for thought and speculation. It is always a colourful story full of adventure, of romance and the rich atmosphere of the early days of Australia, New Zealand and the South Seas. The volume is beautifully produced and contains many wonderful pictures. The publishers are to be congratulated in producing this outstanding edition in its revised and enlarged form.

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