Monsieur Martin: a Romance of the Great Swedish War. By
Wymond Carey. (W. Blackwood and Sons. 6s.)—In Monsieur Martin the hero, from whose name the title is formed, is the yeoman-born tutor of Countess Ebba of Polensjerna, a romantic and stately castle in Sweden where, in the reign of Charles XII., a plot of the subtlest intricacy is acted by a company of charac- ters whose parts it is not always easy to distinguish. But this ex- cessive intricacy notwithstanding, the situation is unintermittingly interesting, and the two central characters—Hugh Martin, the somewhat over-simple but unfailingly honourable tutor, and the Countess Ebba, whom he loves. contrary to all considerations of prudence—are always engaging and delightful. The manner is that of the mock-historical tale of modern fashion,—delicately ingenious, careful to mark detail, alternately native and sug- gestive, graceful, nimble, and just a little cynical. Busy readers might wish the pages fewer, but the leisurely will find amuse- ment in following the adventures of Monsieur Martin faithfully through the whole tale.
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