[?] The Bread

[?]re Book Reviews . . .

Tearaway Seeds

’ Rowland’s second book, > of the World” will have two ■it will give readers some ? hours of enjoyment and a great yen in most travel isit that least known of sub mntries, Finland.

Y’S first book, Why Can’t English?, which described ■ntures of an Australian in lidn’t get past first base with aps, because we weren’t in 1. But this one not only sup week-end of entertainment t of information about Fin lich previously had been nto that category of coun imagined least likely to in lost small countries—popu lar five milion—Finland has troubles. Not only is the i divided into Finnish-Fin- Swedish-Finnish speaking, second language taught in as been changed at various iccording to which Great is dominating the Finns at Finns have Russian as a anguage; others German, last war, English has been I language taught in schools

is increasingly become the

of commerce. Finns can’t o the markets of the world their wood-pulp, paper, latches and textiles unless speak English. And this is ley came in. s current Finnish habit to er in societies, or groups ciations of industries is and import an English lose job it is to not only this language but advise is letters and arrange lec other British cultural ac er clear what qualifications for this job—and probab were more exacting than iow — but the way she tells nployers were concerned she should have an en ie than that they should eir odd, English conversa- Finnish, on the other hand, at even slower rate, and

consisted at the end as at the begin ning, of two words (yes and no) and two sentences (“Are there any cara way seeds in it”; and “Will you please pump up my bicycle tyre”).

These unlikely conversational gam bits however sufficed as she had a fanatical aversion to caraway seeds m her bread and her employers had kindly equipped her with a bicycle.

Finland has other worries than language—including sex. Because of the disastrous war with Russia there is a huge preponderance of females and not nearly enough husbands to go around. A girl has to be dead lucky to be the partner in a man's extra-marital experiences and doubly lucky, plus other advantages than good looks, to land a wedding-ring.

Lesley found this out when the 90 degrees Centigrade heat of the sauna had loosened more than sweat glands.

Katrina then explained about Al phonse. “I don’t think he would marry me even if he is the free man.

He has had one wife and she has gone mad and that is enough for Alphonse, he is a very cautious man.

But he is a good friend and of course we have a relationship because he is like all men and likes the sex.”

Although the Finns could be broadminded about the necessities of life, they could also be exceedingly conventional, as Lesley and another English Missie learned when two young men saw them back to their flat after a ball. With coffee and records

playing, time passed and so did the swift, Arctic, summer night. It was 7 a.m. when they recollected them selves, by which time, according to the two evening-dressed young men, it would be social suicide to be seen leaving the flat. Muttering Finnish and behaving like characters from a Greek tragedy, they insisted on lurk mg in the flat until it was again dark which at that time of the year oc curred after 10 p.m.

Probably the Finns don’t find life in Finland as exhilarating as Lesley and her friends but her version should pay dividends for them in an influx of Australian tourists. (ON TOP OP THE WORLD. Published by Ure Smith, Sydney. Aust. price 22/6?

He Fancied An

Earl For Jenny

TN a spate of Regency novels that A have now pleased two generations, authoress Georgette Heyer has con centrated on heroes and heroines whose veins carry blood of only the inkiest blue and whose manner is, as her own heroes have it, too ton lofty by half.

But the horrible intrusion of mid 20th century democracy seems to be having an influence at last, and in A Civil Contract we find the hero, a sixth Viscount, marrying the daughter of someone in trade.

The someone in trade is Jonathan Chawleigh, a man of oppressively bounding personality, large wealth, flamboyant tastes and low-voltage sensibility. What he had fancied for his plain, dumpy Jenny had been an Earl. What he got was Adam

Deveril, sixth Viscount Lynton, of the Duke of Wellington’s capti in the Iberian campaigns, who < turned to England to find that j lately deceased papa had left family fortunes a sadly mir quantity. The only way he can reo the situation is to turn his bacbl the love of his life and marry pj Jenny.

The rest of the book is devoteie proving that everything is for! best in the best of all possible wok even to the extent of Jenny proc ing a son—a feat accomplished) mirrors as at that stage Adam she appeared to be no quainted than Mr. Chawleigh and Regent himself.

Also as a departure from ft] Adam takes an interest in his fax lands—up to the point of indulj in do-it-yourself by working ini fields with the hired-help; and, fim by backing military knowll against City men’s panic he beatd father-in-law at his own game. I A nice soothing book to reac the end of a normal 1961 day-|know it will all turn out happily!’ after.

Georgette Heyer has a lite; split-personality. As well as famous Regency novels, she w excellent modern mystery stories? are completely different in cons tion and presentation.

(A Civil Contract. Wm. Heines

Ltd. 19/6.)

Bull on TV

IN England Mr. Peter Bull hd reputation as a comic-—om stage and as a writer of biograjf (7 Know the Face, but . . f This is his first novel and it’s o Not on Your Telly. There will I ably be others which some p<c will find a pity.

As the title indicates, it’s £ television (the Telly, as they ss< Britain); about Adam who hatrj because he’s an actor at the Oldt Audrey who becomes a national f as a member of a panel game;' their charlady who is equally d) guished as a contender for a jaox prize on “the other channel”, j It’s a mildly irritating piece : a few funny lines based on En class consciousness and a sir! bawdy wit.

A taste for this sort of thiii probably congenital and can’fi acquired.

(Not On Your Telly. Publish!

Peter Davies Ltd. Aust. price, 20/\(