10 JULY 1869, Page 22

Honore' de Balzac. Edited by Henri van Lama. (Rivingtons.)—This is

a very serviceable book of extracts from a great writer whom no student of French should neglect, but whose works are certainly not to be read in their entirety by any one not capable of digesting very strong- meat indeed. M. van Laun appends some useful notes, which those who. have attempted Balzae will readily understand to be needed.