Shaven Crown. By M. Bramston. (S.P.C.K.)—This " Story of the
Conversion of the Surrey Border" is as good a piece of work as Miss Bramston has ever done,—in this line at least. She has a quite unusual success in making these remote and unfamiliar figures, our English forefathers, live before us. The "Shaven Crown" is a monk whom Ethelbert, King of Kent, sends to announce to his sub-kings, chiefs of the Adding and Bedding tribes and others, that he wishes them to receive baptism. Denis —that is the monk's name—has been and still is a "man of his hands," and though he makes valiant efforts to turn his cheek to the smiter, the old Adam is strong. But the root of the matter is in him. Ignorant and half-barbarian as he is, he is filled with a passionate love for his master and for the souls of men, and is faithful to the end, bitter end though it be. Miss Bramston has most wisely avoided sentimentality ; Swangift, carried off to revenge some raided cattle, and to help a scheme of the wise- woman, Wolf hild, accepts her captor with the resignation that women had to practise in those days, although her heart is with an affianced husband of her own tribe. She uses the arms of the weak, patience and craft, with admirable effect, and defeats the schemes of much cleverer people. This is a story to be read, both for its own sake and as an excellent illustration of history.
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