15 OCTOBER 1904, Page 21

Or-rain. By S. Levett-Yeats. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)—Orrain is a

book belonging to the school which finds its original inspira- tion in the works of Alexandre Dumas. It reproduces with a fair measure of success the atmosphere of the days with which it deals, and though we have been rather satiated of late with the- adventures of beautiful young ladies travelling through perils innumerable under the escort of the hero of the story, yet these particular adventures are sufficiently well told to make therm interesting. In the end the marriage of the adventurous pair is brought about by no leas redoubtable a personage than Catherine de Medicis, whose name is not often mentioned with such grati- tude as it is by Monsieur d'Orrain and his bride.