15 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 23

The Insane Root. By Mrs. Campbell Praed. (T. Fisher Unwin.

6s.)—Seeing that the accumulated sadness and ghastliness of these three novels find a fitting climax in Mrs. Praed's new story, we might paraphrase Fabian's remark, " More matter for a May morning," and dub it "More matter for a winter evening." Here the hero, not satisfied with ending his rival, possesses himself of that rival's handsome person wherein to woo his love. This astounding transmigration is performed by the aid of "the insane root,"—the mandrake. The portraits of the mandrakes in the beginning of the book look like crosses between mummied cats and "freak" potatoes. The literature of the mandrake is never cheerful,—this novel is no exception to the rule.