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'16th September 1928 I am now re-reading Chesterton?s ?History of the United States?. I have never been able to acquire the habit of taking notes when reading a book, even such a student?s book as this really is, but I think I will try and do so for once. The book is, of course, to a great extent the expression of a personal view, but much of the thought it contains as I think extremely true and valuable. I like it generally speaking.' I find it agrees with my own conception of American racial temperament and American institutions, while the descriptive history is vivid and exciting. A very jolly book. I do not think Cecil Chesterton a great writer, but he is a hard and coherent thinker, and has a flair for infusing movement and life into his book.
'17th September 1928. [...] The new piece by Maurice Rostand is getting a very favourable press and I would like to see it. It is entitled ?Napoleon IV? and is about Prince Louis-Napol?on who was killed in the Zulu war. I always remember him as the very fat man in one of mother?s picture books. When I was very young he afforded me much amusement. I have been reading Jacobs between chapters of American history. ?Deep Waters? and ?The Castaways? ?.. (W. W. Jacobs)'