4 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 12

Italy and Italian towns furnish materials for endless descriptive writers.

M. Maurel writes of the Little Cities of Italy (G. P. Putnam, 9s. net) and has much of history to tell us pleasantly condensed, and we are carried along by a story full of striking and picturesque incidents. Mr. E. Hutton writes in considerable detail of Siena and Southern Tuscany (Methuen and Co., 6s. net). Tho Famous Castles and Palaces are described by E. B.D'Auvergne (S. Werner Laurie, 15s.), and the Cathedral Cities are written about and painted by W. W. Collins (W. Heinemann, 16s. net) ; and those proposing to motor Through the Alps to the Apennines will find the route described by P. G. Konody (Kagan Paul, Trench and Co. 12s. 6d. net).—In this last book, besides details of dis- tances, there are to be found many excellent photographs.