Wordsworth. By A. R. Osborn, M.A. " Australasian Litera- ture
Primers." (Whitcombe and Tombs. Is. 6d.)—The pub- lishers of the " Australasian Literature Primers " are to be congratulated on their enterprise, which aims at leading the Colonial student to an intelligent appreciation of the best litera- ture of the Mother Country ; and also upon initiating the series with a study of Wordsworth. Mr. Osborn in this inaugural volume gives a brief survey of the main features which characterized Wordsworth's age, a chronological summary of his life-history, and some sound comments on his views and aims. Then follows a selection from the works in which, on the whole, we find little to criticize ; though we regret that where space is severely limited it should have been thought necessary to include such poems as " Stray Pleasures "—surely not up to Wordsworth's standard—and the halting sonnet on "Con firmation "—perhaps one of the least satisfactory of a dis- appointing cycle. The passages from the " Prelude " contain two misquotations which destroy the rhythm of the lines in which they occur. We trust that the bewildered student will at least give Wordsworth the benefit of the doubt !
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