Chapter 80

(Eng ed 20–9510)

(Eng ed 20–9510)

(Eng ed 20–9510)

(Eng ed 20–9510)

A series of literary essays and reviews. The author says, “All I have sought to do has been to convey some of the pleasure I have gained from desultory reading of all kinds during the last few years.” In part 1, Novelists and novels, he writes of Compton Mackenzie, Norman Douglas, Frank Swinnerton, Stephen McKenna, Jane Austen, Clemence Dane, Dorothy Richardson. Part 2, Poetry and poets, is devoted to J. C. Squire, Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Nichols, Dora Sigerson, Chinese poetry. Part 3, Books in general, contains reviews of Strachey’s “Eminent Victorians,” Smith’s “Trivia,” and other recent works, also papers on Alice Meynell as critic and Lafcadio Hearn. Some of the essays are reprinted from the Fortnightly Review and To-day.

“A light and sketchy, appreciative and not over-critical, yet useful contribution to the history of current literature.”

“There is not one author treated by Mr Mais of whom the reader will get a just estimate, for frothy appreciation is not justice; but there is one author whom the reader will come to know all too well, and he is Mr Mais. Even in his interminable and ill-written summaries of other men’s work, of which the bulk of the book consists, Mr Mais obtrudes himself. He cannot create, he cannot judge, and with his own clamour he deafens judgment.” O. W.

“The most interesting part of Mr Mais’s ‘Books and their writers’ is, to my mind, that devoted to novels and novelists.” K. F. Gerould

“Although Mr Mais’s title is commonplace, his essays are not likewise dull. They are variable in quality, to be sure, and there is in them a revelation of the critical faculty their writer so explicitly denies himself.” E. F. E.

“An easily readable book, full of time beguiling extracts from the authors under review—an excellent reference book to supplement more critical and comprehensive works on contemporary literature.”

“One likes Mr Mais because he likes all sorts of things, and writes about them with a zest which compels you to like them, too, whether you agree with his judgments or not.” R: Le Gallienne

“He has undeniable talent, great industry, almost fanatical enthusiasm: such qualities might carry a man far, but his untidy and careless mind is in danger of wrecking his literary career almost at the outset.”

“Mr Mais has not much of value to say: he just flows on chatting intelligently about the books people are reading (or supposed to be reading) and the authors they are talking about.”

MAJOR, CLARE TREE.How to develop your will power. (How to develop ser.) *$1.25 (4c) Clode, E. J. 170

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This volume, which follows “How to develop your personality” and “How to develop your speaking voice,” has chapters on Self-examination; Will: its power, function and development; Physical dominance (three chapters); Be courageous; Learn the value of habit; Self-control; Self-control and business power; Business success; Will in idealism; with a Review of chapters at the close.

MALDCLEWITH, RONSBY, pseud.Professor’s love-life. *$1.50 Macmillan

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“The book comprises a series of genuine letters, written by a man who here appears under the name of Ronsby Maldclewith to his fiancée, Katherine, a woman of the old South now some years dead. They are published in accordance with a wish expressed by her. The young professor, devotee of literature and art, within a few months of the discovery of their mutual love, becomes the victim of incipient lung trouble. The letters to Katherine—from Denver during an apparently beneficial sojourn; from New York city, where he settles in order to be able to consult often with great specialists; from his home, to which he returns full of courage and hope of ultimate recovery, and lastly from Denver, where he loses the great fight—are intensely pathetic and from beginning to end tell a story of measureless devotion.”—Springf’d Republican

“Were it not for beauty of language, pathos, lofty sentiment and apt quotations, there is no denying that reading the book would at times be depressing.”

“It would be hard to trace the impalpable quality which stamps these letters with the seal of truth: but it is there to illustrate the law that style is the touchstone of all fine and sincere literature.”

MALINS, GEOFFREY H.How I filmed the war; ed. by Low Warren. il *$4 Stokes 940.48

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“This stirring narrative describes the innumerable adventures that occurred to Mr Malins in the pursuit of cinematograph records of the fighting on the western front. Mr Malins’ devotion to his job is surpassed only by his courage.”—Ath

“Very few men have displayed such courage and devotion in winning an empire or in winning a wife as Mr Malins has shown in taking his war films. That he is alive to write a book (and an extremely good book) about them is one of the incredible things of the war.”

“A brisk interesting account of soldiering with the camera. It gives assurance that the scenes of war in the movies were taken at the front, often in positions of danger.”

“The pictures are good, and his story, told in a very conversational and natural way, is especially instructive.” J. S. B.

“No doubt Mr Malins’s volume is making a stir in cinematographic circles; but apart from them, we question if it will have a long career as a ‘library book.’ The films themselves were efficiently done, but they were all that counted; there was not enough stuff left to make a readable book.”

“Very readable account.”

“There was excellent material for a book in all these adventures, and Lieutenant Malins writes with great spirit, if without any special distinction of style.”

MALLOCK, WILLIAM HURRELL.Memoirs of life and literature. il *$2.50 Harper

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“Memoirs,” says the author, “represent life as seen by the writers from a personal point of view.... Thus if any writer attempts to do what I have done myself—namely, to examine or depict in books of widely different kinds such aspects and problems of life—social, philosophical, religious, and economic—as have in turn engrossed his special attention, he may venture to hope that a memoir of his own activities will be taken as representing an age, rather than a personal story.” (Chapter I) The first three chapters are devoted to the author’s family antecedents and early life and some of the other chapters are: Winter society at Torquay; The basis of London society; Vignettes of London life; Society in country houses; From country houses to politics; Cyprus, Florence, Hungary; Two works on social politics; Religious philosophy and fiction; Politics and society in America; Literature and action. The book has an index and a number of portraits of famous writers.

“To some the philosophy will seem too self-satisfied and the ease of tone, varied only by urbane satire, indicative of a class heedlessness of much of the passion, discontent and injustice below the surface.”

Reviewed by H: L. West

“His ingenious mingling of the records of his own life and mental progress and achievement with accounts of his contact with other men and women of his time, give to Mr Mallock’s memoirs a rare quality. Its pages are all filled with an exceptional sympathy for the mental attitude of even those from whom he differed on problems of vital and lasting importance.” E. F. E.

Reviewed by R. M. Lovett

“It is with something of shock that we discover Mr Mallock’s conservatism as unyielding as when in the complacent days before the war he came to expound it from the rostrums of our universities. Events have marched, but Mr Mallock has not marched with them. And yet, disappointing though it is, Mr Mallock’s volume contains chapters that redeem it from the commonplace.”

“Too much of the memoirs are snobbery, genealogical dissertations and comments on the author’s own novels and economic studies. He possessed the opportunity for a surprisingly good book but he has not wholly availed himself of it.” H. S. Gorman

“What the author has given us in his books, with all sincerity, has been, so it seems, not ‘confessions’ by any means, but his real inner thought without compromise or unexpressed reservations. This, rather than its suavity of style, its variety of interests, its numerous personalities, explains the charm of the volume. There is an air of intellectual and moral success and good-breeding about it such as one rarely finds.”

“His comments and anecdotes are not always agreeable or calculated to give the reader high ideals.”

Reviewed by E. L. Pearson

“This constant didacticism goes far to spoil what is otherwise so good. If only Mr Mallock had expended his energies more exclusively on the descriptive and anecdotal parts of his book, he might have produced a work of rare charm; he has the insight and the literary skill to have done this.”

“Delightfully entertaining work. Not once in a blue moon do lovers of good literature fall upon anything so richly suggestive, so charmingly satisfying.” Lilian Whiting

“Mr Mallock in the lucidity of his style, in his confident logic and graceful sense of proportion, in his fastidiousness and his cynical undertones, betrays the mind of the eighteenth-century aristocrat.”

MALONE, CECIL L’ESTRANGE.Russian republic. *$1 (4½c) Harcourt 947

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As the basis for an opinion as to the possibilities of peace negotiations with Soviet Russia, the author undertook an examination of the political, social and military conditions there at first hand, by a personal visit. The book records his findings in diary form interspersed with interviews, conversations and personal reflections. Throughout, the author draws a comparison with the French revolution and concludes that the only way to head off a military dictatorship in Russia is through one of two policies; the unthinkable one of making war on her on a grand scale, or “to make every effort to give the Soviet republic internal and external peace, and to establish commercial bonds with them, to the great blessing of mankind and to the prosperity of all countries.” Contents: Introductory; To Petrograd; Moscow; Social reconstruction; Trotsky and the red army; Industry; Religion and women; The peace terms; Homeward bound; Conclusions; Appendix—Prinkipo and Nansen.

“Colonel Malone’s attitude is one of a somewhat suspicious solicitude; he is aware of the danger of being taken in, and this gives to his report an air of special authenticity. Perhaps the most interesting chapter is that dealing with the Red army.”

“Colonel Malone’s book will be popular among sympathizers with Soviet Russia, especially those of a more or less conservative stripe. It explodes the grosser fabrications about Russia without implying too much violence against what cautious folk conceive to be a properly centered world. Its superficiality from this point of view may prove an asset: for no one can deny that it is essentially a superficial study.” Evans Clark

MANDER, JANE.Story of a New Zealand river. *$1.75 (1c) Lane

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A story by an author apparently familiar with the country of which she writes. For its beginnings it goes back a full generation to a pioneer age in a new country. Alice Roland is as unfitted for this life as her husband is fitted for it. An English woman, adrift with a young child, she accepts Tom Roland’s offer of marriage and goes with him up the river to the wild country where he is to carve out his fortune. She has never loved him, and finds her life, with its hardships and recurrent child bearing, dreary enough. Then love for her husband’s partner, David Bruce, comes to complicate the situation. Alice’s scruples and David’s loyalty to his partner keep them from transgression. In the meantime Alice’s daughter, Asia, grows up, with ideals very different from her mother’s, with a sure knowledge of what she wants, and she doesn’t let the fact that the man she loves is already married stand in her way. There are good pictures of the New Zealand landscape and of its developing civilization.

“She lacks confidence and the courage of her opinions: like the wavering, fearful heroine, she leans too hard on England. There are moments when we catch a bewilderingly vivid glimpse of what she really felt and knew about the small settlement of people in the lumbercamp, but we suspect that these are moments when she is off her guard. These serve nothing but to increase our impatience with Miss Mander. Why is her book not half as long, twice as honest?” K. M.

Reviewed by R. M. Underhill

“The author not only knows her country, but those who live in it, and she describes both with strong feeling and yet with artistic restraint.”

“The theme of this book is good but it is not good enough for 430 pages of closely printed matter. Of the characters that create ‘The story of a New Zealand river,’ which, by the way, is an extremely bad title, nothing but praise may be given.” H. S. G.

“The novel presents an interesting picture of pioneer life on the unnamed river and some of Alice’s struggles are well portrayed, but there is so much reiteration and so much of what can only be called padding that the effect of the novel is greatly weakened and it loses its hold on the reader long before the climax is reached.”

“The author handles this tale of an isolated New Zealand lumber camp with considerable romantic effect.”

“The authoress has a real ability to describe character and differences of outlook; but she does not allow the plot to become lost in disquisitions. The book would have been more emphatic if it could have been shortened, but in its present form it is a patient study of one example of the immemorial clash between impulse and convention. The authoress never exactly hits the bull’s-eye, but she is always on the target.”

MANNERS, JOHN HARTLEY.All clear, God of my faith, and God’s outcast. *$1.25 Doran 812

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These three plays: All clear; God of my faith; and God’s outcast, “written during the horrors of the unjust and cruel war forced by Germany upon civilisation ... founded on actual incidents, may serve to keep alive remembrance of some of the barbarous outrages perpetrated by the Hun on innocent and wretched peoples.” (Foreword) They are songs of hate and the Germans, in the author’s opinion, are “a race apart, unfit to associate with and to be shunned forevermore.”

MANSBRIDGE, ALBERT.Adventure in working-class education. *$2 (*6s) Longmans 374.2

“This book chronicles the genesis and growth of the Workers’ educational association which was founded to promote the higher education of working men and women by means of an alliance between co-operation, trades unionism, and university extension. It began in 1903, not without opposition and with very little financial support, which Mr Mansbridge, to whose enthusiasm the organisation owes much of its vitality, counts like a true fighter amongst the reasons for its success. Mr Mansbridge and his colleagues preserved their eager optimism even through the depressing years of the war until, at the present day, they can number over seventeen thousand members in the British islands and many prosperous branches in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. The vivifying idea of the movement is that most workers have an interest in education if they would only realize it; and to stimulate that interest and provide facilities for its gratification are the objects for which the association was formed.”—Spec

“This book is a short but inspiring introduction to the spirit of the whole movement. In passages it rises to levels of fine eloquence. The prologue should be read by every teacher; and the whole spirit of the movement should become known to social workers and lovers of democracy everywhere.” J. K. Hart

MANTLE, MRS BEATRICE.In the house of another. *$1.90 (2½c) Century

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When the heroine of the story comes back to consciousness after an auto accident, she finds herself in a strange environment and among unfamiliar people. She even realizes she has a husband, Alan Leland, whose existence she has no remembrance of, and a circle of friends whom she does not recognize. But they take her quite for granted, which adds to her mystification. She wonders if she is out of her mind. The difficulties of the situation are increased by Willett Renshaw’s attitude to her which is that of a recognized lover. His attentions are distressing to her, but she does not understand the situation clearly enough to be able to straighten it out. Renshaw’s attitude finally results in her separation from Alan, to her sorrow. But she bravely tries to reconstruct her life on a new plan, until a wise friend who realizes that there is some big trouble in her life goes to the bottom of her fears and paves the way for her future happiness and Alan’s.

“It needs a Wells or at least an Anstey (as in ‘Vice versa’ or ‘The statement of Stella Maberly’) to carry out this idea of exchanged personalities satisfactorily.”

“As a novel written to divert and mystify, ‘In the house of another’ succeeds in its purpose.”

MANTLE, BURNS, ed. Best plays of 1919–20, and the Year book of the drama in America. *$2 Small 822

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This volume marks the first appearance of a new annual which attempts to do for the professional drama what Mr Braithwaite’s anthology does for poetry and Mr O’Brien’s year book for the short story. Mr Mantle has selected ten of the successful plays from the New York season of 1919–20 and has presented them, partly in summary, partly in dialog. They are: Abraham Lincoln, by John Drinkwater; Beyond the horizon, by Eugene O’Neill: The famous Mrs Fair, by James Forbes; Declassee, by Zoe Aikins; Jane Clegg, by St John Ervine; The jest, by Sem Benelli; Wedding bells, by Salisbury Field; Mamma’s affair, by Rachel Barton Butler; Adam and Eva, by George Middleton and Guy Bolton; Clarence, by Booth Tarkington. The volume opens with “The season in review” by Mr Mantle and the year book at the close includes surveys of the season in London and in Paris, along with statistical summaries and other data relating to the stage.

“As to at least five of the ten, there will be general acquiescence in Mr Mantle’s choice, and as to the other five there will be general diversity of opinion.” Brander Matthews

“Friends of the drama in America owe Mr Mantle a real debt of thanks.” Dorothy Grafly

“Altogether a much-needed piece of work, and well done. If the next time Mr Mantle will include some account of the significant achievements in stage-craft, his year-book will prove even more valuable.”

MANUEL, HERSCHEL THURMAN.Talent in drawing; an experimental study of the use of tests to discover special ability. (School and home education monographs) $1.25 Public-school 136.7

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Account of a pioneer investigation in the province of specialized ability, or talent, conducted by Professor Whipple, Miss Genevieve L. Coy, and Dr T. S. Henry among selected public school pupils and college students of Urbana, Illinois. The problem the investigators set before them was to discover “the essential psychophysical characteristics of persons talented in drawing,” and to learn how the test methods could best be used in the diagnosis of such talent. To the individuals selected were given certain tests of: general intelligence; higher thought processes; memory and learning; reading; observation; sensory discrimination; handwriting and drawing; also physical and motor tests. Tests given were taken from Binet-Simon, Whipple, Thurstone and other authorities. The investigation, completely described in this little volume, together with a list of the tests, and a bibliography of books used, “resulted in a somewhat detailed statement of the nature of talent in drawing and has yielded a tentative program of tests for the measurement of this talent.” (Conclusion)

MAPU, ABRAHAM.Sorrows of Noma. il *$1.50 (1½c) National bk. publishers, 200 5th av., N.Y.

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A translation, by Joseph Marymont of the Hebrew historical romance, “Ahavath Zion,” the first novel that appeared in Hebrew literature. The story, beginning with sinister treachery and deceptions, and a bitter tragedy, centers about the motive so often recurring in the great Greek narratives—that of a noble son hidden away from evil intrigues of enemies, and raised in rural simplicity as a lowly born shepherd. In this case there is also a mother falsely accused by her husband’s enemies, and a beautiful daughter. The finding of the lad Ammon by an exalted lord’s only daughter, his restoration to his birthright both of nobility and property, the vindication of his mother Noma from false accusations, the inevitable punishment of the followers of iniquity, the loves of Ammon and his sister, are interwoven with a picture of the city of Zion during the reign of Ahaz, and the austere fear of God and love of nation inextricable from any conception of the ancient Hebrew.

“The story is well told in language borrowed for the most part from the Old Testament, and the manners and customs of the Jewish people are well described.”

“As a contribution to the cause of acquainting the world with Hebraic literature, ‘Sorrows of Noma’ comes as a valuable addition. But aside from the literary and classical considerations there is still a third value to this book. The human interest of it.” Rose Karsner

MARBLE, ANNIE RUSSELL (MRS CHARLES FRANCIS MARBLE).Women who came in the Mayflower. $1.50 (13½c) Pilgrim press 974.4

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“This little book is intended as a memorial to the women who came in the Mayflower, and their comrades who came later in the Ann and the Fortune.... There is no attempt to make a genealogical study of any family. The effort is to reveal glimpses of the communal life during 1621–1623. This is supplemented by a few silhouettes of individual matrons and maidens.” (Foreword) Contents: Endurance and adventure; The voyage and landing; Communal and family life in Plymouth 1621–1623; Matrons and maidens who came in the “Mayflower”: Companions who arrived in the “Fortune” and the “Ann.” Index.

“A very attractive little volume. It is well worth reading.” W. A. Dyer

“Full of pleasant gossip about the Mayflower folks is this little volume.”

“Within its limits it is extremely comprehensive, and well worth reading.”

MARCH, NORAH HELENA.Towards racial health. *$2 (2c) Dutton 612.6

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A book on sex hygiene and sex instruction designed for parents, teachers and social workers. It is an English work and is brought out in America with an introduction by Dr Evangeline W. Young of Boston, in addition to the original foreword by J. Arthur Thomson of the University of Aberdeen. The subjects covered include: The physical development of the child; The mental and emotional development of the child; Care of children; Supervision—psychological aspect; Nature study in the service of sex instruction; Further aids towards understanding the biology of sex; Ethical training; Education for parenthood (two chapters); Social safeguarding. Other important matter is presented in appendices, including suggested ways of answering children’s questions. There is a bibliography of seven pages and an index.

“The soundness of the author’s biological background is attested by Professor J. Arthur Thomson’s commendatory foreword, while her willingness to deal with delicate practical difficulties betrays the sympathetic understanding and intimate personal knowledge of the teacher.”

“What Miss March has done is well done—her chapters are poorly named, however. The American edition would be improved if statistics from American institutions and organizations were added.” E. M. Achilles

“The author exhibits a singular ignorance of the ways of real boys and girls and is to be credited with an extensive knowledge of the literature of the subject.” H. C. M.

“It is an unusually successful attempt in this difficult field.” L. B.

MARCHANT, JAMES, ed.[2]Control of parenthood. *$2.50 (5½c) Putnam 176

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Arguments for and against birth control are presented in this volume, to which distinguished men and women of Great Britain contribute. The Bishop of Birmingham writes the introduction. J. Arthur Thomson and Leonard Hill write of Biological aspects; Dean Inge and Harold Cox of Economic aspects; Dr Mary Scharlieb, Dr F. B. Meyer and Dr A. E. Garvie of Social and religious aspects; and Sir Rider Haggard and Dr Marie C. Stopes of Imperial and racial aspects.

MARCOSSON, ISAAC FREDERICK.Adventures in interviewing. il *$4 (4c) Lane 920

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The book, the author tells us, grew out of a series of articles dealing with war-time interviewing. He believes in making a record of people and events while they are alive and when the interest in them is keenest and he has met many of the commanding figures of the day. He introduces the reader to them both by word and picture. All the most prominent contemporary journalists, statesmen, military men, novelists and actors pass review along with the history of the launching of many a popular book and touches of personal friendships with the author. The contents are: Watterson and the early days; New York and the world’s work; A great American editor; The art of interviewing; Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt; The real Lloyd George; Northcliffe, the king-maker; Haig and other British notables; Kerensky and the revolution-makers; Pershing and Wood; Foch and Clemenceau; The Wall street sphinxes; Some literary friendships; Other literary associations; The story of “The jungle”; Plays and players. There are sixty-one illustrations and an index.

Reviewed by A. B. Maurice

“Mr Marcosson’s book is good reading for the general reader and a good text book for young writers and young newspaper men.” J. C.

“This is a rarely readable volume. It is also excellently illustrated; the photographs with which its pages are generously adorned are exceedingly well reproduced, and the volume takes on value, therefore, as a popular portrait gallery.”

“It is packed with big personalities described in a most entertaining way by a man who has a genius for interviewing and has had rare opportunities for its exercise.”

“The style is already familiar to hosts of readers—popular, fluent, rapid, pointed, occasionally showing irritating haste and carelessness, yet never losing the good journalist’s knack of telling his story interestingly and vividly.” E. M. Brown

“A book of many limitations. Mr Marcosson is not even an observer, he sees only the most obvious features in a man’s face and the most conspicuous qualities in his mind. Nevertheless his book is interesting. He sees little, but he sees clearly; and, again, he writes barbarously, but he writes clearly.”

“Mr Marcosson seems to have been especially fortunate in his intimacies with writers.”

“Unfortunately, Mr Marcosson has not the gift of revealing his personality in his writing, nor do any of the famous men whom he describes emerge from his pages bright and clear-limned. His book, indeed, is a pedestrian piece of work. But though its sole interest lies in the various subjects presented to the reader, that interest is substantial and well recompenses one for the momentary boredom produced by certain appallingly vapid statements.”

“A bright, racy and interesting account of interviews with a host of notables. From start to finish the personal pronoun ‘I’ looms up with great frequency. This detracts much from the delightfulness of the book.”

MARDEN, ORISON SWETT.You can, but will you? (Marden inspirational books) *1.75 (1c) Crowell 170

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A collection of the author’s essays on right living. Among the subjects are: The new philosophy of life; The new idea of God; Facing life the right way; Winning out in middle life; How to realize your ambition; The web of fate; The open door; Do you carry victory in your face?

MARKHAM, EDWIN.Gates of paradise, and other poems. *$1.75 Doubleday 811

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This is Edwin Markham’s fourth volume of verse. It is made up of short poems arranged in eight groups: Van-couriers; At my lady’s window; Wings for the spirit; Deeper chords; Finger-posts for the highway; Echoes from the world war; Memorable men; Songs to the supernal woman. There is a frontispiece portrait of the author.

“Is, at its best, rhymed moralizing: eloquent, sincere, restrained, but withal too absorbed in immediate domestic and sociological interests to touch the deepest mysteries of the heart of man.” R. M. Weaver

“‘Gates of paradise’ is pleasant for its simple yet technically capable lines only. The thought contained therein is as old and hackneyed as ham and eggs for breakfast. If he is not careful the mantle of Ella Wheeler Wilcox will descend upon him.” H. S. Gorman

Reviewed by O. W. Firkins

MARSHALL, ARCHIBALD.Many Junes. *$2 (2c) Dodd

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