24 SEPTEMBER 1898, Page 24

SCHOOL-BOOKS.

Spenser's Faerie Queene. Books II. and III. Edited by Kate M. Warren. (Archibald Constable and Co.)—If ever there were a poem which would bear being issued in separate books it is assuredly The Faerie Queene. In spite of the charm of Spenser's verse, the reader of his great work is too often bewildered by its wealth of incident, and by the lack of coherence between its different parts. This drawback is to a great extent removed by the plan of issuing the "Legends" separately. The text of the present issue, which has been prepared with great care, is based on that of the editions of 1590 and 1596. Each volume is pro- vided with an admirable glossary, and with notes, containing all that is necessary for an understanding of the text. The intro- ductions are ably written, and show much critical power. That to Vol. III., dealing with the Legend of Britoniart, is particularly good.