19 JULY 1968, Page 20

Shorter notices

A History of Children's Reading and Litera- ture Alec Ellis (Pergamon Press 35s). Concise, informative and sobering account of working- class education, the books available for children and the use made of them, examined in relationship to the growth of literacy from the nineteenth century onwards. A record, with few exceptions, of indifference, ignorance, often enough of positive obstruction on the part of the teaching and library professions.

Roads and their Traffic 1750-1850 John Cope- land (David and Charles 45s). Admirably detailed and knowledgeable, if somewhat esoteric, handbook, with plentiful illustrations; probably indispensable for writers of histori- cal novels.