POOL
PUBLICATIONS

POOL books are always worth reading, because there is always some special reason for the publication of each. The idea of Pool books is that they shall have something to say, educative or frank or refreshing. Their initial purpose is less a matter of appealing to the literary epicure than to the thoughtful mind.

POOL books are profound, problematic, and generally controversial. This statement, however, should not be taken to mean that POOL has any particular axe to grind, but, rather, that is it always open to new ideas and expansions.

All books are issued in limited editions; fifty of which, out of each issued, are usually numbered and signed by the author, and sold at five shillings or one dollar above the fixed price. There are no fixed periods of publication, though it can be anticipated that from four to six new books appear each year. Those still available are:

CIVILIANS by Bryher.

(Author of *Development, Two Selves, West*, etc., etc.)

Price 7/6 (or 2 dollars)

This is a study of Wartime England. "What part have Civilians in War ?" is the question this undaunted author asks. Reading it, one realises here is not a searchlight merely, but an oxy-aceteline flame burning to the very heart of conditions that made a World War possible.

"So war began with cheering and ended with drunkenness. What about Berlin ? What of the defeated ? What for all of to-morrow ? There was nothing to do for those not drunk but to go to bed. As they had gone to bed on August the Fourth.

There was a lot of ruin in between. Where did the old code
lead? Be a good wife, be a good mother, be a good citizen
led to this—drunken men cheering in a war, drunken women
cheering out a war. Nobody caring, nobody responsible.
People dying, even civilians dying”. Or again :

"Your King and Country Need You, screamed the posters. Well they were learning now what King and Country was! "You bloody bastard..." the sergeant began, and the cane. descended again, full between a horse's ears. The rest of the sentence was lost in the jingling of the reins. Children in prams sat and watched "the soldiers"... "It's a shame," someone in the crowd yelled... "Not so good for recruiting to do that in the open," an officer was saying.... The recruits galloped along the Row. On hoardings black robed mothers with white hair prodded their sons toward bayonets."

This is a vivid, remorseless book of the War, unique in every
way. A great book.

GAUNT ISLAND, by Kenneth Macpherson.

Price 7/6 (or 2 dollars)

A take of the outer Hebrides, a small island "where things
happen". "Fear struck a note in him, —a treble slang. It
was easy to apprehend a hand filling the dusk, streched down
to him. A hand . . . eyes . . . something . . . . . .

*Its is not joy that waits for you here.*

Then he shook his throat from the upturned collar of his
weatherproof and regained pride. There was a club foot
of rock and erosions had continued it in a leg. The family
stronghold was set on the instep, wary with watchtowers.
It was an attempt at shelter from Atlantic gales, seen only
obliquely from the sea, but the wind made arcs and tor-
mented it with catcalls..... Night set off across the sea like
an expedition. Something would happen. Rising, he felt
the land shake under impact. Tide crashed against his
feet . . . . . ." . . . leads to an immense climax :

"Get that woman out of here," said Mannering, "someone
take her away and attend to her." Mrs. Mannering bowed

down her head and wept terribly. She gained control at once. Aggie Scott was screaming down the corridor, more and more faintly, "it was an accident, my finger nail. My finger nail. . . ." A grim impassivity fell upon the room. The candles guttered frenziedly in strong draughts." . . . . . An absorbing and tragic tale, capturing the true island sense of sea and weather and emotion "on this island hybrid and un-feasible."

WHY DO THEY LIKE IT ? by E. L. Black.

With a foreword by Dorothy Richardson.

Price 7/6 (or 2 dollars)

A fifteen year old boy has written this. His piercing "Why" is the last comment on Public School system. One sees the young, keen intellect in constant rebellion against endless stupidities. The curious reluctance and fear toward life found in the more sensitive types of adolescents, can be traced always with its causes—the cumulative effect of paltry injustices, crudities, brutalities. An absorbing and revealing document.

ANATOMY OF MOTION PICTURE
ART by Eric Elliot.

Specially priced at only 6/- (or 1 dollar 75)

This fascinating book is a truly rewarding survey of the complicated and highly organised "anatomy" of motion photography, its bearing and influence upon modern existence, its future and its past.

Mr. Elliott has indeed achieved what many other writers on the cinema have tried to do and failed. He has condensed into two hundred pages the whole aspect of the film world, its problems, its failures and its achievements.

*Anatomy Of Motion Picture Art* is uncommonly constructive in its attitude, leaving no stone unturned, opening up many neglected side-issues, and pointing out ways to improvement. At the same time it is never prejudiced or dogmatic, though its suggestiveness cannot fail to impress the reader with its keen insight and stimulating soundness.

*Anatomy Of Motion Picture Art* is a book we are proud to publish.

Postage on all books 1/2 or 25 cents extra.

Other books are in preparation.

POOL

RIANT CHATEAU

TERRITET

SWITZERLAND

On Close Up

One of the most important POOL publications is *Close Up*, the monthly review devoted to the study of films from the angles of art experiment and development. This has met with an exceptional success, so much so, that from its original form, designed for the few, it has expanded to such a degree, that it is in touch with responsible agents all over the world, and its circulation increases by leaps and bounds from month to month. With its recent developments, *Close Up* can claim to be the only reliable guide to real development in the cinema. Its representatives in various parts of the world ensure its being in actual contact with any films that may commend themselves for any particular reason, be it art, education or experiment. Thus no film of any special merit or distinction is overlooked, and those who desire to keep *au fait* with the progress of cinematography cannot do better than take their information from *Close Up*.

Additionally it is generously illustrated with photographs from the best and newest films. Its independent position ensures an unbiassed attitude, and complete frankness in the expression of its opinions.

Close Up is published on the first of every month, priced at one shilling, or one mark, or five francs, or twenty five cents. The annual subscription by post is fourteen shillings, or fourteen marks, or seventy francs, or three dollars fifty cents,

P. T. O.

... The expanding ripples from a stone dropped in a pool have become more a symbol for the growth of an idea than a simple matter of hydraulics.

... As the stone will cause a spread of ripples to the water's edge, so ideas once started will go to their unknown boundary.

... These concentric expansions are exemplified in POOL, which is the source simply—the stone—the idea.

... POOL is seeking to express new trends and new will. Not, as we have said before, to grind any axe, but to make a centre for new ideas and modern thought.

... Some of the books here listed will appeal to you. Books on the cinema, educative books, novels. ... Stimulating and vigorous books of real distinction.

Page One

THROUGH A YELLOW GLASS

By OSWELL BLAKESTON

An exhaustive and suitably condensed survey of the whole
field of cinematography, especially in relation to the studio.

Lighting, photography, loading, scenario-writing, editing,
make-up, locating; these are but a few of the subjects dealt with.

The Yellow Glass, through which you judge the photographic
tones of the colours in your set, has been held up by the author to
all possible lights and side-lights: sometimes with disastrous
revelation, sometimes with happy discovery. Disastrous or happy
it is always true and always revealing. Learn for yourself what the
film world is really like.

"This book is a film of which only one of its merits is that it is up-to-date. To tour a studio and see how a film is made, from haphazard start to belated finish, may sound dull, but under Mr. Blakeston's expert guidance it is not only an extremely amusing experience but a great stimulation to serious consideration of the cinema. . . . The reader is left in possession of a number of ideas to do with constructive cinema which he never knew he owned."—*London Mercury*.

"... Une forme nette et savoureuse, c'est une véritable petite encylopédie du cinéma.—*Variétés*.

"This book so fills a real want, that of teaching the intelligent public how a screen play is made."—*New Age*.

"Une très intéressante étude technique de la prise de vues, du travail du scénariste, du metteur en scène, des opérateurs, etc."—
*La Cinématographie Française*.

"... He takes them with love and care through the studio and does not leave a single corner or crevice unexplored."—*Film Technik*.

*Price Seven shillings and sixpence. Postage sixpence.*

POOL, 24 Devonshire Street, London, W.C.1

Page Two

IN PREPARATION.

# THE LIGHTHEARTED STUDENT

## (i) German.

By BRYHER AND TRUDE WEISS

Being the first of an admirable series of guides to foreign languages for hurried people. Let us call the authors humanitarian and have done with it. They have found that all the words you need are similar to English words, or rhyme with them. Root-principles have been rearranged, all that is vital can be counted on your ten fingers. Designed for the visitor to Germany, it contains only that which the visitor will be likely to need. Because of intimate and gay doggerel, the learning of grammar, idiom and modern conversation need abash you no longer. Take this example from Lesson 1 :

“ Dare desperate dames deign
To go to market in the rain ? ”

Three well-known authors worked for hours to achieve the above rhyme, which contains, however, the German declension of the definite article used in the singular with a masculine noun.

Nominative the = der (dare)
Genitive of the = des (desperate)
Dative to the = dem (dames)
Accusative the = den (deign)

Try to see in your head some old women perched on top of a cart full of vegetables, in their best clothes, going to market. Then think of a thunder storm coming up and imagine what would happen ! Finally repeat over and over to yourself

And when you really know it, try the German, der, des, dem, den.

From this example, you will see that your task will not be unduly taxing. And yet, when you have assimilated the whole of the fifty ingenious and engaging lessons, you will have a working knowledge of German which will be sufficient for all normal purposes, and carry you anywhere. Nobody unacquainted with the German tongue should be without it.

Ready early Autumn.

Orders can now be taken.

Price One Shilling and Six Pence. Postage Threepence.

Page Four

IN PREPARATION

EXTRA PASSENGER

By OSWELL BLAKESTON.

Author of *Through a Yellow Glass*.

This is Mr. Blakeston's first novel, a brilliant and vibrantly
modern piece of writing, which portrays with his own terse and
clarid hardness of vision, the life of a young man of ideals struggling
against a stifling family environment, and who, enthusiastic to
express himself as an artist in new cinema creation, finds himself
in an even more stifling environment—that of the British film
studios; of which the book contains an acid and withering indict-
ment.

It is virile, deft and swept by colour. The bright speed of modernity will conduct the reader on a tour of tense and merciless revelations.

*Extra Passenger* will be ready in the early Autumn.

Advance orders can now be taken.

Page Five

CLOSE UP

This monthly magazine, devoted to the art of the screen, reveals a whole new world of possibilities to those who have regarded the film as a mass entertainment widely divorced from the realm of art.

*Close Up* is the international organ of world development, and essential to all who in any way care for the cinema and see its possibilities. It is read and contributed to by the foremost directors of the world, by thinkers, scientists, educationists, critics. Correspondents in Berlin, Paris, Moscow, Hollywood, Geneva, etc., keep you informed of all new developments.

Since *Close Up* is entirely independent of any commercial interests, and accepts no advertisements from film companies, it is able to enjoy a freedom in the expression of its opinions which has made it known as the most candid and outspoken review of the screen yet published.

Its special feature : a large supplement monthly of exclusive and beautiful stills from the best films of the world.

A specimen is free on request.

*Price One Shilling per Month. Fourteen Shillings per year by Post.*

Impressive
Verbal unfearfulness
New Inspiration
Educated
Engaging
Pertinent
Advanced
Singular

Sphere..
Dial
Intransigeant
Cherwell
Poetry
Argonaut
Scarborough Evening Post
Daily Mail

Friends of the cinema... *Tribune de Genève*

Photographies precieuses
Feuille d'Avis (Geneva)
Invaluable
Yorkshire Weekly Post
Cinematic
Provocative
Unique
Foremost artists

Cinema
New Age
Author
Indianapolis News

Page Six

GAUNT ISLAND

By KENNETH MACPHERSON

A tale of the outer Hebrides, a small island—“ where things happen.”
Mr. Macpherson has caught the very wildness of the wind and the sea, and
the strangeness of the trumpeting “ serrated coast ” : a strangeness that is
less ghostly than enchanted. Storm and rain are the setting to the storm
and rain of the quick, down-weighing drama, whose threat is cast by the
first waves crashing “ like timpany drums ” upon the weatherproof of the
adolescent hero.

*Gaunt Island* is a book you read in a night, or an hour, without putting it down until the last page has been read.

*Price Seven Shillings and Six Pence.*

CIVILIANS

By BRYHER

(Author of *Film Problems of Soviet Russia, Development, West, Two Selves, etc.*, etc.)

A study of Wartime England. " What part have Civilians in War ? "
One realises here is not a searchlight merely, but an oxy-acetyline flame
burning to the very heart of conditions that made a World War possible.

"So war began with cheering and ended with drunkenness. What about Berlin? What of the defeated? What for all of to-morrow? There was nothing to do for those not drunk but to go to bed. As they had gone to bed on August the Fourth. There was a lot of ruin in between.

... Be a good wife, be a good mother led to this—drunken men cheering in a war, drunken women cheering out a war. Nobody caring, nobody responsible. ... On hoardings black robed mothers with white hair prodded their sons toward bayonets."

This is a vivid and remorseless book of the War, unique in every way.
A great book.

WHY DO THEY LIKE IT?

By E. L. BLACK.

(With a foreword by Dorothy Richardson).

Written by a fifteen-year-old boy, whose indignation at the crushing
though often small tyrannies and stupidities of the Public School to which
he is sent, instead of turning to passive acceptance, finds expression in a
vigorous indictment, which shows up more clearly than any critical essay
of an adult observer, the destructive regression to mob intolerance which is
mistakenly called the public school spirit.

Page Eight

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