Old-Timers Condemn
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Grimble’s Gilbertian Book
WHEREVER old-timers of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands foregather—and there are quite a number in Sydney—they soon drift into an indignation meeting over Sir Arthur Grimble’s book, A Pattern of Islands.
It is a most colourful and lively and amusing book, and it has made the grade as a best-seller. As a result, Sir Arthur has been taken to America as a lecturer and com mentator, and he probably will get a small fortune out of royalties and what-not.
But a great deal of the book, say th£ old-timers, is either sheer fiction, or gross exaggeration. They produce facts of natural history, such as those relating to sharks and octopuses, to prove that some of the things Sir Arthur so blithely describes as happening just couldn’t have happened. They take in cident after incident, as recounted by his lively pen, and tear it to pieces, on the basis of their know ledge of localities and conditions.
There is little use in fretting.
This is typical of modern life, and not peculiar to a Grimble book.
The public want newspapers and books which entertain them —otherwise, they will not buy the goods.
Ergo, most publishers give the public what it wants, often strain ing at the truth, but not straining too heavily. Sir Arthur’s book, at any rate, is well written and very amusing.—R.