3 JULY 1909, Page 32

War. By Charles Somes Layard. (George Allen and Sons. 6s.)—The

novelists of to-day have a great subject, not vouchsafed to their predecessors, in suggestion and hypnotism. It is, of course, an ingredient which wants skilful mixing, and this Mr. Layard has employed. It is an uncanny business from beginning to end, but one likes to believe that deep-seated, strongly based goodness cannot be wholly perverted by any sinister influences. This point is well worked out in War, and does much to re- concile readers who commonly do not care to have their souls harrowed when they set themselves down to enjoy a novel.