Conquistadors of the Useless, by Lionel Terray (Gollancz, 30s.) is one of the best mountaineering books since "Space Below My Feet". There is no tedioui blow by blow description of the customary sort but rather the intense excitement. the pleasure and sometimes the misery of climbing is conveyed by one of the world's greatest mountaineers. There are very many photographs of quite exceptional excellence.
NEIL MIDDLETON
A Book of Gardens, edited by James Turner (Cassell, 35s.) is essentially a book of gardens. not just another manual on gardening. It has a relaxed air, gracious. yet practical, and covers many aspects of the art of gardening. There is a good helping of lively humour, too. Gay Galsworthy's illustrations exactly fit the character of the book which consists of contribution by well-known writers.
D.E.M. A self-portrait is the artist's form of autobiography. He looks first into the mirror to find a faithful record of his outward appearance and then, far more searchingly into himself to clothe that appearance with as much expression of his intimate being as he is prepared to give the world. Self-Portraits, from the 15th century to the present day, by Manuel Gasser (Weidenand Nicolson. 75s.) covers six centuries and contains 70 portraits-each reproduced full page ist colour.
IRIS CONLAY The Two Old Bachelors, by Edward Lear (Bodley Head, 12s. 6d.). Paul Galdone, who is already well known for his drawings of Anatole the Mouse, and of various nursery rhyme scenes and characters, has provided the illustrations for this edition of Edward Lear's classic. It is a large, spacious book, and children are sure to enjoy it.
Master Stories of the Twentieth Century (Pan, 3s. 6d.). Aldous Huxley and Alan Sillitoe, Arnold Bennett and Frank O'Connor. P. G. Wodehouse and A. E. Coppard are only some of nearly 20 authors who appear. What • better present for an aunt could there be ?
Quest in Paradise, by David Attenborough (Pan, 3s. 6d.). New Guinea. Fiji. Tonga and the New Hebrides are the settings for th:s evocative little book of jungle wanderings and Pacific curiosities. Queen Salote, who endeared herself to the Coronation crowds. makes a welcome appearance. A good escapist book for the winter months.
Hutton and Washbrook by A. A. Thomson (Epworth Press. 21s.) is a cricket biography of the last reliable English opening pair Together they averaged nearly 60 in 50 opening partnerships. Mr. Thomson writes impartially, and this book can be relied upon to enliven a dark winter evening.