1958-01-21 — Page 4

What's Best in Kowloon?

THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1958.

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**War Minister one day, Minister of Agriculture the next—you can see be's done his National Service."

A JOURNEY TO THE FAR NORTH IN SEARCH OF MISSING GUSTO

The house with a view

explains the mystery of Eric Linklater

NIGG, Ross-shire.

I

TERE at the topmost edge of Scotland, at a solitary white mansion high above the grey land-locked sea,

mysteries. This is my report.

I came to the munsion by night. As I drove up the long, dark drive the Northern Lights glimmered eerily above the bare trees.

Then suddenly brightness swept out across the frost and snow. In the lighted-doorway of the big old house stood the man I was seeking. Mr Eric Linklater, the author.

What exactly has been hap- pening to Eric Linklater?

In the thirties he was one of the brightest of the bright boys. He worked in India, he roamed in Russia and Tibet. His roguish knock-about satire, Juan in America-followed by Juan in

From the Scottish writer of

tough, virile tales...a book

that's mainly for children

Ching--was one of the big best- Swedish girls who run away to sellers of the age.

sea. He talked about war.

LATEST BOOK

He took down a British helmet which nestled among the book- helves, A ragged bullet hole had been punched through

BUT where is Linklater new? crown.

For thousands (and I am one) he remains Scotland's greatest living writer. But for head.

the

light the

Martin

ROBERT PITMAN'S

The man I met at the porch was short, almost faunty.

BOOK

PAGE

Suddenly everything fitted together. I rpalised that, whether

ita his genius gets desoris or not, Linklater is easily the most successful author of our lines in the most important thing. In the business of living»,

I realised that Linklater Näï not hidden himself away. For him that house with the view of the mountains is plumb at the. centre of the universe. W

IN BRIEF

• I LIKE IT HEBE.. by Kingsley, Amls. This strange but sharply entertaining travel book (disguised as a novel) by the Lucky Jim man la sure to upset the Hampstead set. He pokes fun at homosexuals at carnest literary chattorers; at the cultured folk who like to say that the French and Italintis "know more about the art living." Here is his now hero, Bowen, thinking about beer and about his genteel mother-in-law, whose name is Mrs Knowles

"Beer was cheaper walle still sharing with gin and Burgundy the property of making him drunk. This inst factor. had acclaim. received insufficient

He thought to himself that if he, ever went into the brewing business his posters would have Beyond the shining written across the top Bowen' Ecor, and then underneath humps of Ben Wyvis and its that a picture of Mrs Knowles It was time for Linklater to brother mountains gleamed. drinking a lot of it and falllag

talk and banter effect that might have on future stopped. Linklater tilted his long bald sparkied. Listening, I forgot I generations of young Britishers." waters the great snow-covered

He sold: "Sec that had arrived just an hour before."

the maillons? Linklater, hidden Butter in my skull. I got that This was a family i had always for 10 years in the far north, is as a private

now just another

whisky adverts

face in the Watch In 1917."

Sir

which feature his white-chinned friend, Compton Mackenzie,

Why?

xome

in the Black belonged to.

trenches young From the Linklater went back to Aberdeen to study, medleine. Refiling my glass he told me:-

SAILING MAN

drive me back to my Hitle

Firth.

and then scross inn on the shore of Cromarty "We bought that view," said about,

Linklater prondly, and we had bottom in. bold lettering. in buy this great house to go words 'Makes You Drunk)" with 12"

(Gollancz. 198, 6).

the

the

The landlord was already in festive mood. We joined him round of brandies. Tho THE port came round. Then in a

Linklater cried: "The inter- landlord's uncle, an old soldier, "I was the most monstrously Do you remember Linklater's bad medieal student in Scotland, view! We must get on with the came in from the kitchen. There The talk I returned were more rounds. books of old?

Was simple I simply couldn't pass anatomy. Interview." He and

enough about Still. I am a qualified midwife." lo the study.

various wars, about local deaths contained They

irre-

Linklater talked of his travels Linklater fetched second and local births. Author Link- sistible love scenes. But those

later, formerly Rector of Aber- novels were also tough, virile.

"But

as a Scutch writer, I bottle of port.

deen University, took enthu~ That Take Mupus Merriman,

believe that I've got to live here

He said: "My father was an slastic part. contains the craziest drunken among my own people."

Orkney man, à esptain og sall-

As I listened in the little fan, Ing-ships. He went round the "Scotchi?" I asked. "In

Horn several times. And my as I remembered the gay, $166. But whunt is Linklater's England I've always been

tionale family up at the house book? It 15

called taught to say Scots or Scottish mother went with him." KARINA WITH LOVE (Mar-

He shook his head and anlod on the hill, I was berinnlag to 800 the answer to the Link- millan, 158), It is

didn't do her Iinklater snorted. "A modern "The life

later mystery. pretty teenage Swedish girl who fad. There's no bagls for it at harm, bless her. She died last

It is say ali. In Scotland people have month, aged 90." the publishers "mainly for always said either Scolch' or children." It is charming, taste Scots-just as they please."

But ful, beautifully illustrated.

brawl since Falstaff.

new

rung

away to sea,

* about

It is hardly like the old brawl- ing, war-loving Linklater.

WHIMSICAL?

any

I noticed that may port glass had become full again, I said:

The talk went on. Finally, with the landlord leading, I groped my way bed. I was comfortabló but, odd- sheets. Then v. there were

to

I hoard the landlord's wife mur-

Mrs Linklater, as pretty and

"I've read in one of your sharp as any Linklater heroine, called us into dinner. She said: books how you first decided to "You must forgive our ideas write a novel. You heard that a mur next door in the darkness: about meals. This is a terrible girl you were once in love with "Och, you've put him in. the rissatto. It contains blts of had actually had a novel pub- every meal we've had for about lished. You were so envious that

u weck."

you wrote one too."

hidden himself up north because Magnus, black-haired

bright in their carly teens, to 'll tell you her name. She was

Linklater moved reailessly With Love. The man I met at the porch around the table pouring out

wrong room."

But my investigation had not quite ended,

IT ALL FITTED

SIA

WHAT has happened? Has ho become 4 whimsical

I was introduced to the Link- Linklater laughed: "Perfectly writer of children's books, a

and true. We were students at Aber- kind of Guelle Gallico? Has he later family.. To Andrew

and deen when I knew her. And

FTER my porridge next A morning I heard barking his gusto is falling?

Christine, n teacher at a drama. Lesley Storm."

and the crunch of footsteps on was Linklater This week-end I beilove I school.

Linklater explained Karina the beach. It

with his dogs. have the answer.

Outside tho

glittered 2 "I promised friend, a

асток the Firth. The dogs was short almost jaunty. Ho claret. He said "I never get brillant Swedish photographer, sempered across the snow on should write a book the beach. Linkin ter atrodo wore a yellow tie, a chock waist- angry about things these days" that we coat. He led me to his study Magnus and

booted. together in pictures and words after them. I followed, penting. and poured out whisky. Liko Linklater banged on the table. Thus is the result."

I sild: "One thing I forgot, Are it was something

"I was once trying you working Linklater

any books special from the Orkneys.

But the only author teetotal.. Fald:

Over his shoulder Linklater your John Gordon He's the the Church Temperance Council said: "Oh. Yes, I've two novels only effective Angry Young Bian could suggest wie Inid Blyton almost finished. But come and

Linklater's eyes blazed with have a look at this." of the lot."..

We climbed up across croak- -long delight. He said: "My word if There were aliver candlesticks only one could get fald Burton ing frozen gries towards Link- From whisky he turned to

a splendid Inter's hour, Then Linklater other subjects. But not to Uttle on the table. In their flickering' plastered-priat

HO

Androw

APTER-IN

He cried: "Bilenco: I repeat to and big authors who wore now?" "I have taken the liberty I never get angry. But I'

glad there is someone who can

of mixing in water for you. It's

so much stronger than the stuff you got over the bars in Lon- don

on

ZANIES

L'any