BOOKS OF REFERENCE FOR 1933
• Whitakees Almanaek (Os. and 3s.) is the most useful and most indispensable of all reference books, and we are glad to find that the 1933 volume is virtually unchanged save that its index is even better than before. Facts and figures have been revised up to November last and can be trusted. It is the sixty-fifth annual issue.—Comprehensive and extremely accurate, Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes, 1933 (Kelly's Directories, 30s.), justifies once again its alphabetical arrangement and the well-calculated conciseness of its entries. We may note that the book now includes many eminent persons, artists, writers, business men and others, who are not strictly speaking " officials," and its usefulness for reference is thus increased.---Burke's Peerage, Baronetage, The Privy Council and Knightage, 1933 (Burke's Peerage, Ltd., £5 as.), and Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Cennpanionage, 1933, edited by Arthur G. M. Hesilrige (Dean, 75s.) both deal fully with the titled classes. The main difference between these majestic volumes is that "Burke" gives more detail of ancestry than " Debrett," who is primarily concerned with the living. Both are edited with great care and knowledge and admirably produced.—The Royal Blue Book (Kelly's Directories, 7s. 6d.) is as ever essential for residents in the fashionable districts of London. It includes a Parliamentary guide and a good street map.— The Catholic Directory, 1933 (Burns Oates and Washbourne, 3s. 6d.), now in its ninety-sixth year, is the official handbook for the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. It is 'well edited and most comprehensive in dealing with every department of the Church's activities. The companion volume, The Catholic Who's Who and Year Book, 1933 (Burns Oates, 5s.) contains an extraordinary amount of biographical information about prominent clergy and lay people.— The People's Year Book (Co-operative Wholesale Society, 3s. 6d.) is the annual of the co-operative movement, and deals fully with that movement both in this country and abroad. General topics are not overlooked, but the main stress is laid on economic and financial matters. It is an interesting and trustworthy record.—The Scots Year Book, edited by Mr. A. Bain Irvine (96 Farringdon Street, Is.) has a distinctive Scottish flavour and much information about Scottish societies in and out of Scotland. The editor gave Sir Archibald Sinclair the place of honour, not foreseeing that he would resign his office as Secretary for Scotland after Ottawa. Among various readable articles it is odd to find one entitled" Last Words on Robert Burns " : will the last word ever be said or Burns forgotten ?—Many students and those who like to keep in touch with modern scholarship will be. interested in The Year's Work its Classical Studies, 1982, edited for the Classical Association by Dr. S. G. Owen (Arrow- smith,- 8s Oci.), which includes work in philosophy,-literature, history, archaeology and the Greek papyri:
Previous page
