14 OCTOBER 1922, Page 21

From Vita Nuova to Paradiso. By P. H. Wicksteed. (Man-

chester University Press. 5s. net.)—More tedious and valueless commentary has collected round Dante than round any other writer in the world, and unhappily it still continues to collect.

Dr. Wicksteed's little book, however, like Benedetto Croce's recent essay, is one of the few on the subject that we can welcome unreservedly. The first part deals with the Comedy, the second with the minor works. Dr. Wicksteed's object in the first part is to give the Dante student some conception of the emotional and intellectual position towards the main themes of the Divine Comedy which was held by Dante's contemporaries. The second essay attempts to follow Dante's development as shown in his literary progress from the early Vita Arnow down to the De Monarchic.