-School and Adventure Stories
(Reviewed by a Schoolboy)
LAST year we had occasion to criticize somewhat severely the standard of the books published for boys dealing with . school-life : this year we are provided with a much more palatable bill of fare. We are recommending the following books because they describe school-life as it is rather than ; because of the thrills provided. Desmond Plays the Game, • by b. Stapleton (Chambers, 8s. 6d.), is probably the best ,. account of the joys and trials of school-life published this year. , Froth other books in the " Play Up ! " Series, we know that Mr. Herbert Hayens is an excellent writer of school stories, and Play Up, Tigers ! (Collins, 6s.) is no exception to this rule, while The Wharton Medal, by Richard Bird (Oxford University,. Preis, 5s.), is another very good- book. A Waiting Game, by - Jeffrey Havilton. (Mackie, 3s. 6d.), • is a new type Of school story dealing with the first term at a new school; while The Third Robin Featherstone, by L. C. Douthwaite (Chambers, Bs. 6d.), and To6 - Big- for' the Fifth, by R. A. H. Goodyear (Wtfrd, Lock, 5s.), will also make interesting reading.
There have been a surprising number of books dealing with _ adventure at sea published this year. It must be admitted, that on seeing the title With Morgan on the Main we were;. finniediatelk prejudieed against the book, and expected to reacl.aecounta..of murder, torture, or at least shipwreck, on every page. Our fears, however, did not materialize, and =i Instead we must-say-that it-is a liaok which:we ironic" strongly 7 recommend. Written by Mr. C. M. Bennett (Nisbet, 8s. 6d.), it is'an excellent tale of adventure in the times of pirates and buccaneers, Mr. Percy F. Westerman can . always be -relied upon to provide a good, story otthe sea, and of his two books Published- this .seasoii; Pat' StObari Odltlen - Dawn,' though Rivals of the Reef is a thoroughly good book, suitable, rierhdps, however, for a younger-boy. Both books:are published .by-.Mesars. Blackie at 5s. Mr. John Lesterman, author of The Adventures of a Trafalgar Lad, has written another tale of the sea, which we would recommend for older children. Though the tale moves rather slowly, f.,he Second Male of the Myradale ' (Cape, 7s. 6d.), is thoroughly__ ek- citing throughout.. For those who can .appreciate this book we would also recommend The Red Prior's Legacy, by Alfred . H. Bill (Longmans, 7s. 6d.), a story of the French Revolution. We cannot but say, however, that we are disappointed with Courageous Companions, by Charles J. Finger (Longtnans, 10s. 6d.). Mr. Finger appears to have preferred accuracy in historical and geographical detail to an interesting,style-of writing. Mr. Herbert Strang his set hiinself a high standard with his previous publications, but On London River (Oxford University Press, 5s.). is one of the best of his stories:we have yet read. We hear a great deal of Sir Thomas Gresham, well known to Londoners as a philanthropist, and this story of the days of " Good Queen Bess " would male an ideal -p-resent. Captain Coppernob, by Lawrence R. Bourne (Oxford Univer- , sity Press, 2s. 6d.), and The Antarctic Treasure, by J. F. C. Westerman (Oxford University Press, 3s. 6d.), must also be included in the list of suggested Christmas presents. The best adventure books this year are undoubtedly school and sea stories, but The Watcher of the Hills, by Robert Harding (Pearson, 3s. 6d.), is a really good • tale of secret service in India. Grey Maiden, by A. D. Howden Smith (Longmans', 6s.), also deserves mention if only on account of its original theme, which is the " biography " of a sword from the times of the Egyptians to the days of Queen Elizabeth. The Road to Mandalay, by Major J. T. Gorman (Blackie, 5s.), is certainly exciting, but it is not as objective an account as we should have liked ; The Messenger of the Black Prince, by Thomas A. II. Mawhinney (Harrap, 3s. 6d.), and Up the Rock, by David Ker (Chambers, 3s. 6d.), describe somewhat vaguely how England fared in the Middle Ages ; and for those who have not yet tired of stories of adventure in America in the days of Red Indians, the gold rushes, &c., In Texas with Davy Crockett, by Everett McNeil (Chambers, 8s. 6d.), The Wolf Runner, by E. E. Cowper (Nelson, Os.), Gold for the Getting, by Stanton Hope (Nelson, 5s.), and A Young Virginian, by Escott Lynn (Chambers, 5s.), will provide plenty of excite- ment. The Pyramid Builder, by Dr. F. Rolt-Wheeler (Apple- ton, 5s.), is certainly readable, and who shall deny that his facts are accurate ? Grizzly-bears, Russians, volcanoes, sea-lions, and other " features " of Alaska are described in A Boy Scout in the Griizly Country (Putnam, Os.), the Story, told by an American Boy Scout of his many adventures during a trip to Kodiak Island, Alaska, in order to obtain photographs of grizzly bears.
For all those, young and old, who read and therefore enjoyed the " William " Series by Richmael Crompton we would also strongly recommend Penrod Jashber, by Booth Tarkington (Heinemann, 7s. 6d.), which introduces Master George B. Jashber, who, if it is possible, appears to have been an even worse character than Master William.
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