27 FEBRUARY 1892, Page 27

Essays and Tales. By Frances Parthenope, Lady Verney. (Simpkin and

Marshall.)—Lady Verney (1819-1890) was the sister of Florence Nightingale. In the midst of her many social duties, she continued to publish from time to time, chiefly in the form of contributions to magazines and reviews, the results of her studies in the history of the past, and of her observations of the present. Some of these papers attracted at the time of their appearance no little notice. These, with other works, chiefly tales, have been collected and reprinted in this volume. They will be found to repay perusal. The interest of most of them is still fresh, though the circumstances under which they were published have more or less changed.