11 FEBRUARY 1899, Page 23

With Nansen in the North, by Hjalmar Johanneen (Ward, Lock,

and Co., 6s.), gives the story of the Fram' expedition from the point of view of one of those who were led. This does not always coincide with that of the leader ; seldom, however, have the relations between a chief and his subordinates been more harmonious than in this famous expedition. Lieutenant Johannsen—he holds this rank in the Norwegian Army—found that the only place open for him on board the Fram' was that of stoker. This he occupied till the ice was reached. Then he acted as meteorological assistant. This shows the spirit of the true enthusiast, and the story that he tells us is in keeping with it.—Something of the same spirit, only exhibited in a different fashion, may be found in New Climbs in Norway, by E. P. Oppenheim (T. Fisher Unwin, 7s. 6d.) Mr. Oppenheim evi- dently loves adventure, and can describe his experiences, but why cannot he leave the tourists alone ? He does not reflect that the tourists' feet help to beat the ways for the mountaineer.— We come to a very different kind of spurt in The Merry Gee-gee, by J. G. Lyall (F. V. White and Co., 2s. 6d.) Mr. Lyall, who does not do justice to his own good sense by the title which he has chosen, talks about horse-breeding and horse-breaking, about riding, especially riding to hounds, and about betting, which last pastime he treats with a gentle discouragement which may very well be more effective than the sternest denunciation. —Solo Whist, by R. F. Green (G. Bell and Sons, ls.), is a second edition of directions for playing a game distinctly heretical, but apparently popular.