11 APRIL 1891, Page 23

Four Frenchwomen. By Austin Dobson. (Chatto and Windus —The "

four " are Charlotte do Corday, Madame Roland, the Princess de Lamballe, and Madame de Geniis, to whom about half of the little volume is devoted. And indeed, for variety of interest, if not for concentration and dramatic com- pleteness, the life of this lady, whose career lasted from the days of Louis XV. down to the Revolution of 1830, is pro-eminent. Personally, Madame do Geniis was indebted for her fame to circumstances rather than to ability ; but her story is worth reading, for she lived near great people and had something to do with groat events. For most readers, also, this part of Mr. Dobson's lively book will have tho greatest novelty.