BIOGRAPHY.
A Life of Shakespeare. By Joseph Quincy Adams. .(Constable. 21s. net.) A life of Shakespeare consists mainly in the disproof of fables, the criticism of traditions, and the examination of his work to form theories of what must have happened. In addition we have some amount of tombstone and register- office information, much of it contradictory. But a biographer of Shakespeare who wishes to write a volume of imposing size is compelled to introduce material not strictly relevant. He will expand his book by saying " We can picture the young poet, like other men of. his time . . . (see Dekker, cf. infra) "-; or lie will investigate the cost of living under Elizabeth and the site of the Globe Theatre. Professor Adams is not free from either type of-irrelevance, but he writes in a pleasant and interesting style, his knowledge of documents is exact, and he has no sensational theories to urge. If any reader feels that he ought to possess a life of Shakespeare we certainly recommend this one. It will give him all the facts that are known, and he need never buy another.
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