The Third French Republic. By Frederick Lawton, M.A. (Grant Richards.
12s. Od. net.)—Mr. Lawton's "anecdotal narration," as he calls it, of thirty-seven years of French history is a very readable book. Its most valuable part, we think, is to be found M the summaries of science, literature, art, as they have been developed during these four decades. In the historical sections be seems always anxious to be impartial, though he has his likings. Of the general conduct of affairs be speaks well, but he allows that in the Dreyfus business the country as a whole took the wrong side. The Fashoda business is passed over in a single line. The hostility to the Church is made light of, but it cannot be forgotten that, if the language of responsible Ministers is to be taken into account, there was a strong anti-Christian feeling in the policy pursued. Mr. Lawton tells us that he has resided in Franco for the last twenty years. Doubtless this has been most helpful to him for the writing of this book. But it has touched his English. To "send a man in exile" is distinctly a Gallicism.
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