Life's Seven Ages. 3 vols. By Mrs. Hibbort-Ware. (C. T.
Skeet.) —Mrs. Ilibbert-Ware has chosen for the subject of her present work the life of Esquire Hartop, a Yorkshire centenarian, who lived to the respectable age of one hundred end thirty-eight. The story begins during the Commonwealth, and takes us into the reign of George III. This plan gives the author an opportunity of sketching English society at many picturesque and exciting periods. We are introduced, again, to all the familiar typos of the historical novel, which are fairly well treated. From the ordinary character of the hero the interest of the story suffers, but Mrs. llibbert-Ware remedies this, as far as she is able, by making Jonathan Hartop pass through many thrilling adventures. In our opinion, his five marriages are his chief claims to distinction. The author Ines taken pains with her materials, though she has not quite succeeded in fusing the historical with the narrative parts. She too constantly assumes the guide-book tone and breaks our illusion. Anachronisms of thought or expression are commend- ably rare. Life's Seven Ages will be enjoyed by all readers who have a taste for history, especially by that large class who like their history diluted. Mrs. Hibbert-Ware would do well to omit the irritating foot-notes from a future edition. The authorities she has consulted can be stated, with more artistic propriety, at the beginning of the work.
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