12 OCTOBER 1889, Page 40

The Maid of Orleans. By W. H. Davenport Adams. (Hutchin-

son and Co.)—Mr. Davenport Adams tells the story of the famous Maid with sufficient clearness and force. After giving a sketch of her early village life, he goes on to describe briefly the condi- tion of France in the time of her mission, and the events which had produced it. (It is hardly correct, by-the-way, to say that Henry V. at Agincourt was "surrounded by the French forces in apparently overwhelming numbers." They did not surround him, but barred his way. Nor is it just to Henry to say that the "rigour of his government in France" caused antipathy to English rule. His government was as popular as that of a conqueror can ever be.) After this we have the strange history of Joan herself, of her exploits in the field, and finally of her trial, condemnation, and death. A concluding chapter describes the decline of the English power in France. In the appendix we have the docu- ments relating to the trial and to the proceedings (three "infor- mations" and four " inquests ") which were set on foot for the purpose of clearing the heroine's good name.