5 FEBRUARY 1887, Page 46

The Literary Manual. By Percy Russell. (London Literary Society.)—An overburdened

reviewer looks with little favour on "A Complete Guide to Authorship." Still, Mr. Russell gives some good advice, and if he can help young writers to learn their trade—young poets, for instance, to make their verses scan—he will be doing good service to critic as well as to writer. The chapters on" Journalism " are, perhaps, the beet,—the account, for instance, of a enb-editor's work. Not the least commendable feature is that the business is not painted in couleur de rose. There are some interesting remarks about proprietors. The weakest chapter in the volume is " The Art of Reading." It is a jumble of names which can scarcely be of any use as a guide.