Neither of the two biographies issued for the birthday of
President Masaryk would appear to be entirely _satisfactory. Masaryk of Czechoslovakia, by D. A. Lowrie (Oxford University Press, 3s. 6d.) is somewhat puerile though well-meaning. Mr. Lowrie seems to fall between two stools. He is too dull and long-winded to be popular, or to be read seriously.Mr. C. J. C. Street, on the other hand, in President Mcis' aryk (Geoffrey Bles, 7s. 6d.) has done a more competent, if some. what hasty piece of work ; and English readers should be grateful to him. The story of the President's life is told with some dignity. Mr. Street does not, like Mr. Lowrie, devote oyer half his', hook to a romantic account of Dr. Masaryk's childhood. He deals with the various phases of the life in something of their proper perspective, and is good enough to allow the events to speak for theniselves, which they do to some purpose. His is a very useful book, and will serve well until something better is produced.
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