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An Actor Looks Bach
'Little Memories of Big People'
by Max Montesole. Imperial
Printing Company, Perth. 3/6.
From the Publishers.
WHO among the readers of 'The West
Australian,' hi which journal these
delightful vignettes of world celebrities
first saw lisrht. will not welcome their
reappearance in
the more perma
nent form we now
have them, appro
priate to their
merit, In an artis
tically printed
book? Mr. Max
Montesole Intro
duces his readers
to Bohemia at its
best. There can
surely be few ac
tors who have seen
more of the world
or established con
tacts with so
great a number of
worthies, witnin ana without his profes
sion, and still fewer who possess the art
of turning these contacts so entertain
ingly to account. 'Little Memories of Big
People' is a book with a clear title to a
place on our bookshelves. It is a book to
read and read again not only for
the relaxation and sheer enjoyment
it provides, but for the insight into
character it reveals and the out
of-the-way information it conveys
concerning the lives of men and
women of distinction In the not-widely
separated realms of literature, art and
politics. Every character sketch sparkles
with humour, and betrays the author's
cheerful outlook on life.' Only in one in
stance is his pen dipped in galL Of his
little memories of big people that of
Horatio Bottomley is as he himself con
fesses 'alone unsavoury.' This is the
character concerning whom Mr. Monte
sole has no kindly word to say, as how
could be of, as he put it 'as complete a
villian as was Shakespeare's Iago, the vil
lain whose repertoire of villainous attri
butes has confounded and astounded
Shakespearean commentators for hun
dreds of years.' One wonders how this
arch scoundrel finds a place in this gal
lery unless it be to show that, given the
occasion, the author has a gift of* vitu
peration equal to it. Generally these es
says have to do with men and women of
whom Mr. Montesole has the pleasantest
of memories, in the recalling and felici
tous expression of which he reveals his
appreciation of the panorama and joy
of life and no little measure of literary
none Help
Max Montetolt.
Max Montetolt.
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