27 JULY 1929, Page 28

The Prussian King whom Bismarck made German Em- peror was

not an interesting personage. Item Paul Wiegler has taken pains with his biography of William the First (Allen and Unwin, 21s.), and has tried to enliven it with anecdotes and extracts from the monarch's correspondence. His very capable translator, Miss Constance Vesey, has been handicapped because the narrative is all in the present tense— which is common enough in German books but unendurable in English. Still the book has some instructive passages. The Prussian King was genuinely sorry in 1871 to merge his old title in that of the " mock Imperial title." Bismarck had arranged it without Consulting him beforehand.

* * * •