19 APRIL 1890, Page 23

Tales from the Paerie Queen. By Sophia H. Maelehose. (Maclehose

and Sons.)—" No attempt," says the author, "has been made in writing these tales to interpret their allegorical or explain their historic bearing." This is as it should be. It may be doubted, indeed, whether there is a unity of purpose in the story. Spenser seems to have been sometimes carried away by his own fancy, and to have told adventure for adventure's sake. However this may be, Miss Maclehoile has done quite right; for it is thus, and with this end, that she tells the story. It is but a small volume which she has given us, but it is full of incident, put together in a simple and pleasant fashion.