lest of the Paperbacks

TOM JONES, by Henry Fielding d W. Somerset Maugham. Fielding is one of the best, brightest and wdiest of 18th century novelists and also one of the most volumin s. In this Pan version, Maugham s performed an operation on this, j best-known of Fielding’s stories, d cut some of its longest-winded ssages down to 20th century size.

The novel tells of the amorous jgress of young Tom Jones, a indling of dubious parentage Dught up by a Somerset squire.

Phe novel has been made into a itish super-colossal film in which bert Finney, Susannah York, me Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood 1 Diane Cilento and 20 others /e parts. (Pan; 7/6.)

Fhe Nylon Pirates, By

:holas Monsarrat. A novel of life Dat, but thereafter ends all re iblance to this author’s first best ler (“The Cruel Sea”). The pirates ; three males and two females o ship away on a round-the-world ise vessel for millionaires with object of indulging in large-scale ortion. A corny plot saved by )d characterisation. Lashings of . (Pan; 5/6.)

Fhe Perfect Wife. Doris

ilie’s historical novel about the e of Benjamin Disraeli. Mary ne Evans was a milliner who nbed into Mayfair society and the irt of Queen Victoria’s favourite me Minister. As his wife she icked the upper crust but to Dizzy remained perfect. (Pan; 5/6.)

:He Proud American Boy

which Australian writer Russell iddon takes an excursion into ial relations via the American :th. It pulls out all the stops emotionalism but, in the context our times, probably deserves the ilause it received from world ics. (Pan; 5/6.)

Other Novels

)APTAIN BLOOD. Rafael Saba ’s 1929 best-seller. (Pan: 4/6.)

"He Doctor Takes A Wife,

Elizabeth Seifert. About a fellow 3 could have found a place for three females who wanted to try him. (Fontana; 4/-.) "HE LEOPARD, by Guiseppe di npedusa. Italian history is the kground of this book, which is

said to be a masterpiece. (Fontana; 5/6.) THE MOTHER, by Pearl S. Buck.

China, pre-Mao. (Pan; 4/-.)

The Watch That Ends The

NIGHT, by Hugh Maclennan. A man returns from the dead to find his wife married to someone else, which provides an old plot in a new setting—Montreal. (Pan; 7/6).

My Friend Annie, By Jame

Duncan. Follows her other “Friends” —Muriel, Monica and the Miss Boyds. (Pan; 5/6.)

The Return Of Hyman

KAPLAN, by Leo Rosten. American odd-ball. (Pan; 5/6.) NECESSARY END, by Anita Rowe Block. Big business and per sonalities. Reviewed here when pub lished 1960. (Pan; 7/6.)

Fact

The Fall Of Hong Kong,

by Tim Carew. From December 8 to Christmas Day, 1941, six under equipped British battalions and a volunteer force of stockbrokers and clerks tried to hold off 60,000 fana tical Japanese. This is the story of those 17 days and what led up to them. Of particular interest to those who know present-day Hong Kong only as a tourist resort and shop ping centre. (Pan; 5/6.)

The Great Impostor, By

Robert Crichton. True story of Ferdinand Waldo Demara who is still playing Robin Hood somewhere in North America. (Pan; 5/6.)

The Sky Suspended. The

account of the Battle of Britain, 1940, and the Blitz by Associated Press correspondent Drew Middle ton. (Pan; 5/6.)

The Minister Of Death.

The Adolf Eichmann story, from his youth to his execution, told by Quentin Reynolds. (Pan; 5/6.)

For Mystery Fans

Thou Shell Of Death, By

Nicholas Blake. Threatening letters provide the theme. (Fontana; 4/-.) OPENING NIGHT, by Ngaio Marsh. Murder in the context of the theatre, in which department this author is an expert. (Fontana; 4/-.)

Parcels For Inspector

WEST, by John Creasy, alias J. J.

Marric, etc. Action and suspense and the death of an innocent bystander. (Pan; 4/-.)

For Other Tastes

The Four Loves, By C. S.

Lewis, Professor of Mediaeval and Renaissance English. Religious philosophy. (Fontana; 4/-.)

The Two Mrs. Abbotts, By

D. E. Stevenson. English country life. (Fontana; 4/-.)

The Man Who Saved

LONDON, by George Martelli. How Michel Hollard, French spy and Resistance leader, stole the plans of Hitler’s V-bomb sites, was captured but lived to tell the tale. (Fontana; 5/6.)

The Heart Of Man, By

Gerald Vann, OP. Religious philosophy. (Fontana; 4/-.) CAN THIS BE LOVE, by Herald Froy who is a British-model funny man. (Pan; 4/-.) (Our copies from Wm. Collins (Over seas) Ltd.)