19 NOVEMBER 1887, Page 46

John Canada, by Raoul de Navery (H. H. Gill and

Son, Dublin) is very unlike ordinary romances for English boys ; it belongs, indeed, to that class solely in virtue of its resemblance to books of adventure in America of the Fenimore Cooper and Moyne Reid school. The tables are turned on on here with a vengeance. Bed Indians fight on the opposing sides in the great struggle for the possession of Canada, but the side which is represented most favour. ably is that of France. John Canada is the gallant leader of a French forlorn-hope that tries to undo the work accomplished by Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham. He is out.manwuvred by an English " detective " of the name of Jefferson, and ie ultimately beaten, and dies. His portrait is, however, an excellent one, and so are the portraits of the other French exiles who are drawn to or around him. There is plenty of adventure among the Indian tribes hostile to the designs of John Canada ; and the story can be read and enjoyed apart from the patriotic " purpose " of its author.