Shorter notices
Searle's Cats Ronald Searle (Dennis Dobson 18s). On the whole, the drawings aren't up to the captions—but see 'Exhibitionist cat trying out certain effects': a rotund, shabby feline, strongly resembling well-known Labour PM, stands erect on left forepaw, tail at the droop, and waves right forepaw in the air.
Memoirs Clara Malraux (Bodley Head 30s). An exercise in literary jealousy, losing charm as it gathers impetus and culminating in an all- out attack on Andre. First half an attractive, often amusing, recollection of a bourgeois Jewish girlhood; second somewhat contrived and ill-natured.
A. Letter from a Gentleman to his-Friend in Edinburgh David Hume with an introduction by E. C. Mossner and J. V. Price (Edinburgh University Press 21s). As part of his one and only (unsuccessful) campaign for ah academic post, Hume defends his Treatise of Human Nature against charges of scepticism, atheism, sapping the foundations of morality, etc. Printed as a facsimile of the 1745 (and only previous) edition. An interesting philosophical curiosity.
Gandhi Francis Watson (ouP 9s 6d). An ex- cellent brief life of. the Mahatma—the chapters on South Africa and the Salt March particu- larly good. Concentrated, readable and highly informative. • Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor Mervyn Peake (Nelson 15s). Long awaited and gratefully received reissue of this engaging tale for child- ren by an unjustly neglected master. Superbly fllustrated by himself. Strongly recommended for all small children, discerning elders and all connoisseurs of Mervyn Peake.
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