New Books
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
WHAT BUTTERFLY IS THAT? This is a monumental work. Dr. G. A. Waterhouse has given in detail the result of an intensive study and classification of practically the whole of the butterflies of Australia; and when one re members the size of the Continent and the ap parently endless variety of insect life, one be gins to appreciate the colossal nature of the task. This book is one of a series. “What Bird is That?’’ and “Australian Finches,’’ were re cently produced by Mr. Neville Cayley, F.R.Z.S. —two books that, although of great scientific value, contained much matter presented in popular form, with the result that there has been a great demand for them. This book on butterflies, written by Dr. Waterhouse, is illus trated in colours by Mr. Cayley, and here again an enormous task has been performed with meticulous attention to detail. We predict for the butterfly book as great a success as that achieved by the bird books.
Our copy from Angus & Robertson, Ltd., Syd ney. Published at 12/6.
CHRISTMASTOWN. An Australian writer who is coming rapidly into popularity is William Hatfield, who, as a result of his wanderings in the comparatively little-known interior, writes fascinating books describing the Australia we do not know, spiced with kindly descriptions of the quaint and lovable people of the outback.
His latest production is “Christmastown’’—an extremely amusing description of what happens in a little town in the far west when the festive season arrives. One meets again the characters for whom we formed so warm a regard in “Ginger Murdoch,’’ and there is a laugh on every page. Many of Australia’s allegedly funny books were simply broad farce of the slapstick order. The books of Wm. Hatfield, however, have high literary value, ami he gets his effects by artistry in description rather than by incident.
He is entitled to rank high among humorous writers —of whom there are all too few.
Our copy from Angus & Robertson, Ltd., Syd ney. Published at 2/6.
MAN — SHY. Here is a new book by another Australian author who is coming into his own by sheer merit—Mr. F. D. Davison. No one who has not read this fascinating story about cattle could have any idea of how it is possible to write attractively about so prosaic a subject. The book is devoted to a description of how wild cattle live in the ranges, at constant war with advancing civilization —and somehow Mr. Davison makes the hopes and fe.irs, the comedies and tragedies in the lives of these animals as fascinating as if he were describing a com munity of human beings. It is a book full of charm, colour and incident, with high literary quality, and anyone commencing to read it will find it as interesting and exciting as any first class novel.
Our copy from Angus & Robertson, Ltd., Syd ney. Published at 4/6.