2 OCTOBER 1897, Page 26

Miriam Cromwell, Royalist. By Dora Greenwell McChesney. (W. Blackwood and

Sons.)—This story of the Civil Wars is well written. The level of literary merit, as far as style is concerned, is indeed unusually high. On the other hand, as a tale it is somewhat heavy. It is a dangerous practice to introduce among the dramatis persona' historical characters of the first rank. If they appear it should be as personae mutes, except indeed an opportunity offers to put into their mouths words that they are known to have uttered. But to make dialogue for Oliver Crom- well, King Charles, and Prince Rupert periculosa res est.