The Latest In Brief
p. 92 · Read in the full issue
SHIRLEY HAZZARD, an Austra lian living abroad, is a regular contributor to the New Yorker, and her first book of short stories, Cliffs of Fall, bears the unmistakeable stigma of that magazine. There is the same precise attention to detail and a studied observation of the trivial.
A gentle irony runs through these stories which despite the fine evoca tion of place, remain inconsequential.
Miss Hazard’s writing is, at times, not far removed from the cliches of the glossy women’s magazines. But she has not inconsiderable talent, and one hopes that she may find a subject worthy of elaboration into a novel.
AF.
(Macmillan. 26/-.) Sydney naturalist David Stead died shortly after finishing SHARKS AND
Rays Of Australian Seas,
but he leaves us a useful memorial.
There are chapters on every kind of shark and ray and their habits, with plenty of clear photographs. It is not, as the dustjacket claims, a “lively, readable book”—those not interested in the subject are not likely to browse through it for long—but as an attrac tive reference book with information enough for the layman, cruising yachtsman, and the more scientifi cally-minded, it is good value. Some no doubt will consider it to be rather a high price for a book of only 200 pages. (Angus and Robertson. 63/-.)
The Road To Harley
STREET, by William Byam, is a re port on a British way of life that has
gone with an Empire, and as such iii is an interesting social document. As. an interesting story it is, unfortu-j nately, a disappointment. One would like to remain on side with Dr. Byam as he recalls his days in Egypt and the Sudan at the beginning of thisj century when he was attached to the Egyptian Army as a medical officen In the first few chapters this octogen-j arian shows promise of taking the reader along with him, but his per sonal story begins to lose interest as, he lays more and more stress on the glories of being a British officer and) a gentleman, and the advantages oh being a damn good shot at gam© hunting. (Geoffrey Bles. Our copy fromr Collins, Sydney. 31/-.)
Recommended For
The Youngsters
THE Silent Isles is the third (and) last) of the Tambai Island series; of adventure stories—the author, R; S. Porteous, having died early lasi* year. Porteous wrote for adults; as well as youngsters—originally stories of the sea, but his two novels.* Brigalow and Cattleman were amongst some of the best stories even written about Australian cattle-statiom life.
His Tambai Island stories ar© much more exotic affairs—and this! one is no exception—with a missing schooner, wandering junks and hi- i jacking on the high seas. (THE SILENT ISLES. Published byj Angus & Robertson Ltd. 18/6.)