For the Honour of the Flag. By Commander Charles N.
Robinson, R.N., and John Leyland. (Seeley and Co.)—This is a most ex- cellent example of that type of historical novel which has recently become the fashion, and which appears calculated to delight boys and adults in equal measure. It deals with a period of history that has been but slightly, if at all, touched by our romancists, —the period of England's great sea-fights with the Dutch. In the pages of Commander Robinson and Mr. John Leyland, who have collaborated to produce this book, Blake and De Ruyter fight their battles over again, and the Dutch once more sweep the Channel with the historical "broom." The "battle's roar" resounds through it all, but there is plenty of intrigue, and even a fair amount of love as well. The purely " personal " interest of the book is divided between the villain—a stalwart, fighting, larcenous rogue of the name of Vambrowe—and the true hero,— the narrator's uncle, Marmaduke Stapleton, rash, bold, impetuous, loving the wrong cause, yet full of the motto of his house, which was a special version of the familiar "Loyal to Death." The story is written in the English which was the vogue about the time of the Commonwealth, or immediately thereafter. Alto- gether, For the Honour of the Flag is as reliable in its character of historical novel as it is interesting and exciting as a story of adventure. It is also noteworthy as a successful experiment in collaboration.
Previous page
