Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-01-18
WAR LITERATURE IN
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

AS the war cloud darkens the whole
visible world, SO the war books seem
TO overshadow for the time all other
literature. Every writer who comes in
touch in any degree with the great
struggle must tell his story, well or i'll,
IN prose or In verse. Every reader,
however he may shrink from the task,
finds himself reading, whether he will
or no. The question is. what is best
worth reading: few titles may be Sc
lected almost at random
'England's Effort" is Mrs. Humphrey
Wards second contribution to war
literature. a volume Of letters written
10 an American friend. The Nation
says Mrs. Wards book will help TO a
more intimate understanding Of what
it means for a country devoted to the
arts Of peace TO rededicate itself in the
SPACE Of twelve months to the uses of
VAR
Dr. Karl Liebknecht's "Militarism,.
the book which cost him his liberty.
cannot fali 70 attract attention. The
English translation is made from a
copy In the possession of his brother
the only copy obtainable. as the Gov
eminent after imprisoning Liebnecht,
destroyed the entire edition.
Two other books on Germany. writ
ten by Americans. are being widely
read: Nh Gerard's My -Four Years
III Germany. and Germany: the next
Etpublc"" by Carl Alderman. Mr..
Grrards book is Of great and per
inanent value as historical document:
rs narrative. 1t can hardly be called
n success. A man OF thought and ac-
{ tIon, he has not the pen of ready
writer; set there are passages that
Will always live in the mind of the
! reader. The author himself says of
/ the book: Il tell something of the
real Germany not only that my read
ers may understand the events Of the
last three years. but that they may
Judge what is likely to happen in our
future relations with that country"
Returning to the United States with
ambassador Gerard after two years
intimate association with German lead
trs Nj. Alderman gives to Americans,
III his book. Il full understanding of
why autocratic Germany hates and
fears Am erica and why America must
defeat GtrmOny.
Another book of great Importance is
, The Coming Democracy" by Hermann
Fernau. We are told that this seeth-
ling expos ire of Germany's political
system and the ringing appeal to Ger
many to rid itself of its obstinate and
mschievous imperial dynasty. is by a
, German. Herr Fernau. who has al
ready fastened on his own Government
the inescapable guilt Of having brought
about the war III his earlier book Be
cause ! am n German. possession of
which is now punisha bic in Germany
I 10y death.
| In America and the Great War for
Humanity and Freedom" Willie
| Fletcher Johnson gives the complete
story of the causes and issues that led
to the world war-the history Of events
tha, forced the United States into the
. .cont1ict-mcthods and means of mod
ern warfare-army and navy organiZa- =
tion and tactics.
! From the field Of battle itself come
books Of direct narrative. Eoung SOL
dierS pouring out their hearts in simple
eloquent fashion. Such a book is I'm
4 dor Fire translated from the French
! Of Henri Barbusse. This book has re-
ceived the Government prize in Paris
for the best work written during the
/ war.
! In All in It. Major Ian Hay Beth
continues according to promise his de-
lghtful story Of the First Hundred
/ Thousand"- In open Boats" by AL
fred Eoyes we have the first authentic
account of the grim tragedies which
follow attacks of German submarines
Oh unarlned merchant ships. War
poetry. edited by Prof. George Herbert
! rings together in convenient form
nearly two hundred poems of the war
mostly Of q high order of merit.