Arrows of Desire. By J. S. Mackenzie. (Allen and Unwin.
10s. 6d. net.)—The title, borrowed from Blake, and suggesting a romantic novel, is as misleading as Ruskin's " On the Construction of Sheepfolds." Professor Mackenzie's book consists, in fact, of essays on our national character. He discusses " Henry V." on the assumption that Shakespeare regarded the King as a typical Englishman. He then considers the English character, taking in turn each of the reproaches hurled at us by aative and foreign critics. He contrasts the sister-nations with England, and incidentally repeats what we believe to be the fallacious statement that the Scotsman is more democratic than the Englishman—a statement that does not apply to any Highlander or person of Highland descent. In the end Professor Mackenzie seems to conclude that we are not so bad after all, and that our chief danger lies in " a super- ficial optimism." But he hastens to add that " this cool complacency has its bright side." It is an entertaining book.
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