Books: The Editors Like

THE WONDER THAT WAS INDIAby A. L. Basham. (Macmillan, $9.00.) The history of India from the earliest discovered relics to the Mogul invasion is complicated, half-legendary, and altogether interesting. This book covers art, religion, philosophy, and language as well as dynasties and wars.

THE SUNSET OF THE SPLENDID CENTURYby W. H. Lewis. (Sloane, $5.00.) The life of the Duc du Maine, Favorite (and illegitimate) son of Louis XIV, is the thread on which Mr. Lewis strings a marvelous collection of anecdotes and details about the last days of the Sun King, whose court seems to have been a magnet for amusing eccentrics.

CORTÉS AND MONTEZUMAby Maurice Collis. (Harcourt, Brace, $4.00.) Arguing that Cortés could never have taken Mexico without the acquiescence of Montezuma, Mr. Collis supports his case with a lively account of the religious convictions which led that ruler to connive at his own downfall.

THE KING’S PENCEby C. V. It edgwood. (Macmillan, $5.50.) A study of England just before the Civil War, written with a frank bias toward individuals rather than post-factum historical theories. Lucid, enlightening, and very good reading.

PONDOROby John Taylor. (Simon & Schuster, $4.95.) Mr. Taylor, a professional ivory hunter, sets out to prove that his trade is a fairly commonplace one, but the tales he tells do nothing, fortunately, to support his thesis.

NEFERTITI LIVED HEREby Mary Chubb. (Crowell, $3.50.) The author drifted into archaeology as secretary-factotum on a small dig at Tell El Amarna. She loved it, and communicates her pleasure and the reasons for it with easy charm and an eye for detail.

OUR SAMOAN ADVENTUREby Fanny and Robert Fonts Stevenson. (Harper, $4.00.) The book is mostly Fanny’s journal of life at Vailima, full of crratic servants, absurd local polities, brawls, beachcombers, and high good humor. Fanny is a writer to reckon with.

PORTRAIT OF BARRIEby Cynthia Asquith. (Dutton, $3.50.) Beginning as Barrie’s secretary, Lady Asquith soon became his good friend. Her portrait of him is loving, unpretentious, often funny, and makes one want to reread the plays.

THE LETTERS OF PETER PAUL RUBENStranslated and edited by Ruth Saunders Magurn. (Harvard University Press, $10.00.) Some newly discovered letters are included in this new translation, which is thoroughly annotated and throws interesting light, on Rubens’s activities as a minor diplomat.

HILAIRE BELLOCby J. B. Morton, (Sheed & Ward, $3.00.) An affectionate memoir of a brilliant, many-sided man, which does rather more justice to the Catholic spokesman than to the wit and poet.