Outlaws. By Clarke Little. (Ward, Lock, and Co. 3s. 6d.)—
A Fair Freebooter. By Basil Marnan. (Cassell and Co. 8s.)— We put these two novels together because they are curiously alike in temper and subject. They are conspicuous examples of the "Jack Sheppard" class of literature. We are accustomed to deplore the mischievous influence exercised upon young readers by sentimental and sympathetic narratives of crime. If there is any truth in the complaint, it may be urged with double foree against Messrs. Little and Marnan. Jack Sheppard was hanged at last, however romantic his career. The gang of robbers whose exploits Mr. Little relates with such sympathy retire upon hand- some fortunes, so far at least as the ringleader of the gang and its historian are concerned ; and the last that we hear of the "fair freebooter" who is the heroine of Mr. Marnan's romance is that she is on the way to fresh triumphs. We cannot help thinking that all this is in " very bad form," to say the least. A good citizen cannot consistently with his duty relate with as much sympathy as if he were telling a tale of heroic patriotism how a bank was robbed, a Government treasure "held up," or a lady despoiled of her diamonds. He is saying as plainly as he can : "Thou shalt steal." Of course these adventures do not come off with the success that is here depicted—the exploits of the free- booter in particular make a very great demand upon one's faith— but they may do no little harm for all that. Both books seem to us a needless and gratuitous negation of good morals and good citizenship.
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