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Samoa Sketchbook. Drawings by A J Peake, text by Nelson East is. Published by Hobby Investments Pty Ltd, Adelaide, Australia. Price unstated.

This slim, 64-page, volume of sketches all but two done in Western Samoa breaks new ground in the literature of these islands with an artistic and novel approach. The 34 line

drawings, clearly and cleanly

reproduced, of local buildings

and landmarks, are instantly recognisable to anyone fam iliar with the Samoa scene.

Four of the artist’s sketches have appeared on postage stamps of Western Samoa.

Each sketch in the book is ac companied by a short com mentary and a brief historical outline.

It is a well printed hardback.

But notwithstanding an end paper map of Apia, it is incon venient and incomplete for use as a guide, and inadequate as a history. However, as an at tractive souvenir to be taken away by the more discerning tourist, it should prove popu lar. Perhaps this was the pub lisher’s intention.

It was disconcerting to find the Rev Canon Whonsbon- Aston referred to in this book in the past tense. ‘Whons’ is still with us and remains ‘dearly loved throughout the Pacific’ and in Samoa, which he con

tinues to visit.

Leonard Good-

man.