29 MAY 1915, Page 23

Vladimir Soloviev, the well-known Russian philosopher, was torn in 1853

and died in 1909. Towards the end of his life he wrote a series of three dialogues upon War, Progress, and the End of History, which have now been translated into English by Mr. Alexander Bakehy, with an introduction by Dr.11-Therg Wright (Hodder and Stoughton for the University of London Press, 6s net). The first two dialogues put forward respec- tively the militant and the peaceful methods of combating evil, while in the lest the author's own mystical views receive expression. The characterization of the various speakers in the discussions will be found to be most lively, and to lend an entertaining relief to the seriousness of the subject.