1958-10-25 — Page 14

Page 14.

THE CHINA MAIL- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25,- 1958,

RECORDS

Mad, pasha-nert

THE

love!

AND

BERNARD BRESSLAW

By JOHN LAMBERT

most curious current example of success in the hit parade is a small ditty called "Mad, Passionate Love," or "Mad, Pasha- nert Love," the way Bernard Breas law slobbers it.

Within three weeks it has gold 100,000 discs. It has shot up to Number Eight spot in the best- selling chart. It was hurried off to America the other night, labelled "sure sensation."

Chortles! Ho, ho!

All of this is curious, considering the inside story of its climb to success. American bayers may be crying out fer copies of the song now, but it came from New York in the first place. As a reject. No American company or pop singör would louch it. It had the kiss of disc-death on *it.

Reasons: It is a sadly sophisticated number.

It has a lyric that sounds naughty, but the

message in strictly naive. It lacks any sort of beat. All of which usually add up to poison for the teenage, disc-buying public.

THE

BOOK

PAGE

The Romantic With WHAT LONDON IS READING

No Morals

by GEORGE MALCOLM THOMSON

* THEOPHILE' GAUTIER, By

Joanna Richardson. Rein hardt. 30%.

THE

In the salon ol Princess Mathilde, Gautier was frequent- ly zech Ip conversation with her Botsin, the Emperor Napoleon 11. He attended govorimont committees, wore a a frock-coal" and "Become officer of the Legion of Honour, When he died, in 1873, his

on.

aged, a disappointed poet who funeral was attended, not by a

by tho could only write in the printer's Rumson division, but

elalter or 12h French Chasseurs. Amor the

Hod Gautier been a

Worso TRNJE ŽLO might have been a better writer, for the burden of the family duties he Barmed

writin drove him to much.

office presses. NHE only son of the re- The libertine had ended in a ceiver of taxes at Passy bondage worse than that of the wrote in his microscopic respectable effizen he despised hand words which would one would almost refuse hum

the title of man"). For he sup- have much surprised his ported mistresses instead mother and of one wife. By, ane mistress, Eugenie, ho had a son. Every women, Dow and then, almost to the end perfumes and Hight,

lovely of us life, he would visit her flowers, good wines, He who they were not living together.

and they would deplore that

"He wlin created

has given

Il met similar shudders from the buyers in Britain's Tin Pan Alley, but when Mr Cyril respectable Simons. of the Leeds Music Publishing Com-father." pany, completed iis history he could afford to

do so with chortleg.

Said fre:

"Had no faith in it myself, you know (Ho, ho, hol). Thought; perhaps, the Beverley Sisters or the Kay Sisters would do it, E just another piece of material But 'Beve' and the Kays wouldn't wear it and I can't blame them (Ho, ho, ho!).

"Everywhere I took it the response was the same. Nothing! Then I took it to Wally Ridley of H.M.V. (Ho, ho hot). He had this gimmick to get Bernard Bresslaw to sing it. Very sad singer, Mr Bresslow (Ho, ho, hol),

the

"Still didn't think it would do much good, mind you. Nobody did Ho, ho, hol). But fi clicked. It was a hit. It's getting bigger all the time.

why? Priape, It's the way Bressley does it. Don't ask me (Ho, ho, ho, ho...),"

Now Steinbeck searches

for snails

by GEORGE Malcolm THOMSON THE LOG FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ. By John Steinbeck,

Heinemann. 18s.

a mouth more

Unsatisfactory

too

In a book that calls for Utlo effort from her readers Joanna Richardson outlines the life of this Drustrated, talented French- man. It tells a great deal about him, yet ft 29 Anally unsatis-

responsive than the TEEL Of By be okha mistress, factory. For amid so much in- our skin that we may das Evento, he had two daughters, formation, the living man 19 women, a subtle sense of anell He had taken up with fineste not there. He remains in the

in next room. to draw in the souls of flowers, apparently because he was Strong highs to grip the flanks of stallions, sensitive hands to shoulders of caress the satin creatures of little virtue,"

Sparkling style

And so on and so forth. '

with her skater, Carlotan love

Girls, a beautiful dancer with the soul of a cash register.

The clumsy, bearded French- man, who shambled about Paris in what he supposed to bo Turkish costume end 100k

THE SHABBY PARADISE. By Elleen Baillie, Hutchin- son. 18s. #

#

CHILDHOOD spent in a

London-does not suggest a Probably life sedulously, and

shieldent trom Fuccessfully, crude reallides outsider

Eileen Ballllo' was certainly

At the age of 23, in the full hashish, whose chestnut bate A vicarage in the East End of flush of fusion, writing of this fell aims to his waist, had kind can be forgiven, Theophile grievance against the century Gautier was enthusiastically at he lived in, the century of the work the holy prefaco 10 Hathschlids as he called it: "In Mademoiselle de Maup a the midst of the arumbling of novel declatvely devoid of moral arks, letters, religions and aTTE,

remain."

principles and, indeed, one only the stacks of banicicles not shielded, although she was

that hus taken a secure place in

was scary I had to remove be overloaded,

of

D

and the conTM

His courage

43

a

BY his large and faithful public, this book will

"I was sorry I had to remove soling idea that art and beauty, Goutler behaved with

ап independent be regarded as one of Steinbeck's deviations. a great number of the entries. enjoyed

did not do this because they existence. Independent, for It is an account of a biological expedition into the lacked interest, but it occurred example, of morals.

The rest of his life can be Gulf of California in search of marine specimens, to me that student, delving into Ed's notes for information

weezy as a cruel footnote to that philosophy.

The expedition took place : 1940 and Steinbeck wrote the larger book, of which this is part, a year later. It is not enough of à selentifle sorrative to mailsty the biologists; they will go to the big book

Reflections

It has tou many sentences like "We took znany nails, including small cones and murexes; D 'red teetbranch; hydroids, many annelld worms; and a red pen-

tagonal starfish," for the com- fort of the lay reader who is not at case with the mysteries of the deep at any stages earlier than the fishmonger's slab.

Steinbeck's pages abound with creatures which, by their rendi-

In bondage

.

cafe. Now she writes an account

of vanished slums, wild scenes

THE

TINE CHINA MAIL Book Page today publishsa tities of the six best-sellers in London during the last month

The list, in order of popularity, is based on actuat ̧sales in' sayon of London's leading book shops.“

UNTITLE

1-The Rainbow and the Rose 2-Dr Zhivago

3-Parkinson's Law 4Theresa's Choice S-The Gold Slippers

AUTHOR

Novil Shute Borli Pasternak

C. Northedté Parkinson' Rachel Cecil Frances Parkinson Keyes

6-The Darling Buds of May. ... H. E. Bateso ** The list ls.complied with the co-operation of Army and Navy Stores. Bampus, Foyles, Harrods, Hatchards, W, IL, Smith and Bon, and the Times bookshop.

THE BOOK Mr. K

HAD TO BAN

--

Novel the Kremlin feared sells out in Britain

By STEPHEN CONSTANT ONCE in a lifetime the world of publishing hits the world of politics with an atomic shock. It happened with "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It happened with Marx's "Das Kapital."

This week it has happened

and people, and a way of life,

raw and gusty, but full of zest.

This is the story of how this Here is the story of one who with a book with no political book came to be written and was brought up to know that intentions whatever. A book published.

e-

the docks were "the nest play-written by a poet,

The Russian manuscript ground in London," who

But it was written on the reached an Italian publisher. joyed it and remembers it with

subject of Life by the mait The Kremlin sentita top vivid aftcetion.

accepted as Russia's greatest literary policeman Alexei living writer.

Surkov to Italy to stop its publication. He failed. And that subject treated by that man has turned out to be Then came odd telegrams, the most telling indictment of signed by Parternak, asking the Communism ever written,

publishers not to píblish, But The book is the novel, "Dr publish they did. Zhivago." The author is Boris Pasternak.

.

The gestion is: Wil Kremlin punish Pasternak?

the

the higher pornography. Ricketts was an abundant and complex person, with a special

It was the year 1834, and the devoilon for drink, women and

Romantic Movement was in marine biology. After his death full swag. Theophile, one

His own part in the crumbi in a car accident in 1948, itt most devoted followers, con”

ing, of arms was a refusal to National became Steinbeck's job to go tributed wit

(umsual quality do his duty over Rickolis's scientific note-among Romantic

Guardsman writers),

He was given 24 hours' gaol. books before passing them on to

style sparkling but inclined to

Later on, during the Slope of

stotcal courage.

He pinned many hopes on his

THE CAVE" OF ROUF.- daughter Judith who, to FOTTOW, made a disastrous mar. FIGNAC. By Louis-Rene

age with a homosexual poet.

Nougier and Romain Ro- The apostle of Art for Art's

bert, Newnes. 36s,

| sake found that, after all, he had strong moral prejudices.

He

loved travel, London, WHEN the cave at Roulignac was stumbled on by achool-

Inside story bull-Aghting

and

Spain. He boys In 1945 and entered by visited Russia to write an fe scientists 12 years later, there

The first edition of 25,000 sold count of the Tsar's art troa- began one of the fiercest con-

SRENOtuous wires,

book troversies In

before publication the history of out in his most clotted style. It archaeology in France.

Within six days of being pub- got him 30,000 francs and For, on the walls of the cave,lished in Britain It has become Tsarist decoration. Ho moted

mammoths were painted. Were a best-seller. • they 20,000 years old or had they been done by members of

The publishers said: "The He lives in a small wooden the Resistance during the war? We have not enough coples left."

|phone·never stops ringing cottage, surrounded by

forests, with his''wito. The dispute was vivaciously

Yet ita gaunt, tall author lives argued on both sides with no in his liny village of Peredel. lack of personal acerbily. kino, near Moscow, unaware of This book, in which no exelt-bir fantastic success in the West ing muance of the conflict is lost,never yet having seen his own is written by partisans who be work in print. lleve that the paintings authentic prehistoric works.

invertebratology, could ness to sling, blte, burn, pinen, on poison and lacerate the human emerge with blackanali material intruder show how rational is on half the female population of the normal caution of mankind. Monterey."

The book is, of course, not only about fish. It is also about Stein- beck, and glints with reflections from his odit, uneven tempera- ment. It is written with his pondered humour.

Some of its descriptions of the gen and the shore rise to beauty, because Steinbeck is an exact observer and a lyrical draughts- man.

The beer

Steinbeck writes of this dead friend with love and fun.

As for the expedition, it did not devote itself to austerly to research. It dronk some .thou- sands of bottles of beer.

The

of beauty enjoyment meant, of course, mistresses. But mistresses-as the author of Mademoiselle · de Maupin can scarely have forescen

and children. Children had to be supported. By work.

DI

Э

proudly that this order entitled him to a division of infan""y at his funeral.

In later life a more ironie

Sensitive Hands, Instead hressing satin shoulders, were zoen gripping inky pens, sexth- creditors horor- bling while mered on the door and pun- fate than unhappiness befell this

· rigid · immoralist. Ho became lishers demanded their copy.

In due course the Intoxicated almost respectable,

"He is only at his case with young man who conjured up the

of Made- princesses," said the mother of tale equivocal

moiselle de Maupin out of his his son. They are very happy, unalded imagination, became they have no wants, they are Urech harassed, prematurely splendidly dressed."

The expedition was scient! feally successful.

Over the story node Steinbeck, The expedition which the Indulgent, at times clumsily book describes was conducted philosophical, like a Hemingway under the leadership of Stein- who has been left out in the sun brek's close friend Ed Rickett, and has gone a little soft. But

appeared 85 "Doc" who

in nobody can say that the Cannery Row and now appears engages or exhibits his under his own ame in a profile genius. occupying the first 67 pages.

VIGNETTES OF LIFE

-London Express Service).

THE GIRL WHO GOES IN FOR DOMESTIC SCIENCE GETS HER SHARE OF LOVING— ESPECIALLY IF IT'S INSTANT (RARE) STEAK.

THE MENTAL SCIENTIST WHO DIGS INTO OUR SUBCONSCIOUS

COULD HARDLY BE BLAMED

IF HE CALLED THE COPS.

scenes

Scientific Stuff

GROUP ENGAGED IAS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

SUBJECT: STRESSES AND STRAJAS·

OR WHAT LOAD IS NECESSARY TO BUST A CAR FOR KEEPS.

COM, 1968 BY GENERAL FEATURES

199 COE), TMUND LIGHT13 SELGEVER,

arc

-(London Exzprem Service).

day.

For the Soviet Government banned its publication in Russin.

By Harry Weinert

JUST BECAUSE THE GIRLS SHOW AN INTERESTJA' RESEARCH DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN BUGS THAN MEA.

IF HE'S CURIOUS

AND LIKES TO PICK THINGS TO PIECES

HE COULD BE A BUDDING SCIENTIST

OR A CRITIC.

It is possible that he will go unscathed. For he managed to survive in Russia through the

worst period of Stalin's purges- although he is the son of a Liberal highly cultivated, pre- revolutionary Moscow family,

What is Pasternak lika today?

Sunday they receive friends.

gine

What is the book shout?

Briefly it is the story of Dr Zhivago-a man with a very similar background- to the author's-who gets caught up in the gigantic upheaval of the Bolshevik revolution.

His book affirms the spiritual triumph of the individusi over the machine.

That is what frightens the Kremlin,.

• Colling-Barvill, 21a,.

FICTION SHELFI

SESTRARU.

By CYRIL KERSH

MAN HUNE, BF D Cameron, Hammond Hammond, 124, 84. Lafo is still rugged in the Rockies, as Jeff Clark dia. covers when he returns to his form there after an absence of 12 years. His neighbours start g-feudin' and although merely fritaling at first, it ends with murder—and a mashunt. Bu pense well maintained, there are [no mock-heroles, the writing:fa

crisp and untramelled.

◆ THE KING MUST DIE, BY Mary Renault, Longinaza, 16#. The adventures, as lover and wearlor, of the young TheBOUR, retold in the form of a historical novel. The myths, mysteries and monsters are rationalised (the Minotaur, for example, becomes n man in a mask), but it is stul good, escaplast fun-elhough, the midila sags through ovettengih. Recommended,

THIS IS AN AGE OF

SPECIALISTS —

BUT WHEN SOMETHING IS OUT OF COMMISSION, A GAL AND A. HAIRPIN CAN

DO WONDERS IT'S A SCIENCE.

THE SCIENTIFIC. GARDENER. ATTENDS TO HIS FLOWERS AND DOESN'T NEED THE

ATTENTION

OF ANY S DARNED BEES.

THEN WE HAVE, THE ONES WHO HAVE.'

LOAFING

DOWNL

TO A SCIENCE

I ALWAYS

SAY WORK IS FOR HORSES

● THE PEACOCK BRIDES. BY Gerald Bullet. Denk +15%, A gentle, leisurely, meticulously constructed story of threw, altera In Vietgglin England-their lives and, loves and 'domesti ¿ramuje,

An altogether nice. charming and witty, book for madam's library list, elegantly written against a background of aspidistras and antimacamAPS,

• LOST, BUMMER, By Christo- pline" Davig”) Hart-Davia:«BA, In keeping with a fourgent. Atseridun : literary vague, tho heroine of Lord Bummer, dil seped when she in 18¦ cÂn, a remilk the showa, every promise of degebat ating into averaxy, & mixed-up nymphomanian, NA, dopraming book!

*(London Expeise: Kervice).A