10 JANUARY 1880, Page 23

A catalogue of noble authors would now pass all reasonable

limits, but the list of royal writers is still limited. Hence, Charles XIL, by "Oscar Fredrik," translated from the original Swedish by George F. Apgeorge (Bentley), would have an interest of its own, apart from any question of literary merit. But the literary merit is consider- able. It is a vigorous sketch of the career of the great soldier-king, to whose throne, by a strange chance, "Oscar Fredrik " has suc- ceeded. The writer does not use indiscriminate panegyric, but criticises frankly and candidly the character and policy of the King.