A Young Man from the Country. By Madame Albanesi. (Hurst
and Blackett. 6s.)—The title of this book is of the delusive order, and obviously has only been chosen as an attractive name, and not for any reference which it has to the story proper. " The young man from the country " is merely the nickname given by an aunt of the heroine to the hero, although he really has his headquarters in London, and never had more than a temporary home out of it. The point is a small one, but a title which is in itself descriptive of a book should certainly be an accurate description. The book is a readable account of the ordinary life of English gentlefolks, and as usual when dealing with social subjects, Madame Albanesi shows absolute familiarity with her material. If it stunt be said that the story is slight, it is at any rate pleasant, and a touch of originality is given by making Sir Francis Heatherington, although he does not like the woman whom he has married from pity, yet treat her with the most distinguished consideration. All the people in the book are lifelike except the heroine's sister, Sheila Prentice, and her motiber, who are really not at all eonvincing, Sheila especially seeming to change her nature about half-way through the novel. Patricilk, the heroine, is a charming little figure, and altogether
the book gives a pleasant picture of life ;—is thing to be grateful for considering the usual tendencies of modern authors.
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