12 MAY 1906, Page 28

We must be content with the briefest notice of Modern

Book. bindings : their Design and Decoration, by S. T. Prideaux (A. Constable and Co., 10s. 6d. net). Mr. Prideaux illustrates his descriptions with pictorial specimens by between twenty and thirty binders. The art of designing book covers is one of a special character. Put an outside artist to it, and he will probably fail because he does not realise the severe limitations to which he is subject. "We want," says Mr. Prideaux, "to have more of the plain things of life plainly made." This is excellent,—why not plain English rather than such Latin as corpora vile?