26 MAY 1917, Page 18

Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia ? By

Nicholas Nelnassov. Translated by Juliet M. Soskice. (H. Milford. Is. 3d. net.)—It was a happy idea to add to the "World's Classics" Nekrassov's spirited and touching epic of peasant life, which appeared in 1879, two years after his death, and has since boon a popular favourite in Russia. Mrs. Soskica's metrical version, mostly in an easy un- rhymed measure, is fluent and readable. Dr. Soskico prefixes a short Life of the poet—a picturesque and attractive figure.