24 SEPTEMBER 1898, Page 25

The Age of Sichelieu. By A. Jameson Smith, M.A. (A.

and C. Black.)—The idea of grouping a collection of passages from French historical writers round one central figure has much to recommend it, combining, as it does, many of the advantages of the reading-book with those of the continuous narrative. Considerable judgment has been shown in the selection of ex- tracts, so that the student is presented not only with a picture of the time, but with a study in the development of the French language. The exercises are well arranged, and there is an excellent historical introduction by Professor Clovis Bevenot.