Best of The Paperbachs
p. 94 · Read in the full issue
One of the newest things in paperbacks is that they are getting dearer and dearer all the time, and it seems to us that if this trend continues the virtue of buying this kind of literature is going to reach vanishing point. Books that a few years ago sold for 3/9 Aust. and then moved up into the 4/3 bracket now seem to be regularly priced at 5/6. But for those with time on their hands and the money to indulge themselves, this is a selection from what is currently available:
Neo Classics Arnold Bennett wrote 80 books during his writing life of about 40 years and OLD WIVES’ TALE and RICEYMAN STEPS, the first pub lished in 1908 and the other in 1923, are acknowledged to be his best.
OLD WIVES’ TALE is the story of two divergent sisters and the equally divergent stories of the England Mid lands in the late 19th century and Paris at the time of the 1870 Siege.
RICEYMAN STEPS is one of Ben nett’s later pieces—a character study against a background of a London backwater in the early 1920’5. (Pan; 9/- and 5/6 respectively.) TONO-BUNGAY by H. G. Wells.
This giant-sized novel about a patent medicine man who was raised to dizzy heights of wealth and fame through the gullibility of human kind was first published in 1909. It has all the gusto and tongue-in-cheek satire that this master of early 20th century story tellers make peculiarly his own. (Pan; 7/6.) SHORT STORIES by Guy de Maupassant. In these days when no novel can succeed without sex, de Maupassant stories can be read for their timeless genius alone. Although he wrote full length novels as well, it is on his short stories that his lasting fame rests. (Pan; 7/6.) Practical:
The Pan Book Of Sailing
by Group Captain F. H. L. Searl. A complete guide for anyone who has ever thought of taking to the water, under sail or with an engine. (Pan; 7/6.)
The Pan Book Of Astro
NOMY by James Muirden. A do-it yourself guide for the amateur astro nomer by a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society who built his own telescope at the age of 16.
Novels:
The Valley Of Decision B
Marcia Davenport. The America saga of Pittsburgh steel that becam a best-seller as soon as it was put lished in 1944. (Fontana: 8/9.)
Nanking Road By Vic)
Baum. This novel was first publishe in 1939 and the Shanghai with i International Settlement that is tl background of the story has no gone for ever. The author used favourite gimmick of that literal period—drew together an assortmei of people at one point where the separate lives entwined. For the pu pose of this story it was Shanghai biggest hotel. (Four Square; 7/6.) GILLIAN by Frank Yerby. Sinf Southern women abound in th novel that has some elements < mystery as well. Gillian is the femn fatale of the piece with a split pe sonality she shares with her coloun nurse. (Four Square; 6/9.) THE WHITE RAJAH by Nichol Monsarrat. Fierce battles, voluptuo dances and barbaric tortures breat takingly mingle in this tremendo historical novel. The publishers ther salves say so. Nonetheless it is oi of Monsarrat’s lesser works with : resemblance to any other Whi Rajahs purely coincidental. (Pa 7/6.)
The Banner Of The Bui
by Rafael Sabatini. Adventures in tl life of Cesare Borgia. (Pan; 5/6.) Thriller:
The Documents In Te
CASE. One of the early efforts Dorothy L. Sayers who in this i stance had the help of RoN Eustace. Unusual as to handling ai effective enough to have run throuj a dozen printings. (Four Squai 5/6.)