21 NOVEMBER 1885, Page 22

CURRENT LITERATURE.

GIFT BOOKS.

The King's Service : a Story of the Thirty Years' War, by the Author of " The Spanish Brothers," &c. (R.T.S.), is an interesting and well-constructed story centering in the fortunes and adventures of a Scotch Protestant family who took part in it, and introducing also a German household, with whom their fortunes became con- nected. Chapter xxi., "The Cross-Bills Again," is historically in- teresting as containing an authentic account of the death and last moments of Gustavus Adolphus by an eye-witness, his own page. A light and graceful touch shows itself throughout the tale, which, comprised in 250 moderate-sized pages, we can recommend with pleasure. The getting-ap of the book and the illustrations are alike good and tasteful.