ANGLO-IRISH LITERATURE. By- Hugh Law. (Long- mans. 6s.)-Mr. Hugh Law
is known to many as one of the most cultivated members of the Nationalist Party during the whole period of Redmond's leadership, and his book shows everywhere a knowledge not only of -Irish literature but of Ireland. It is pleasantly written—indeed, it is talked rather than written—and so makes easy reading ; but its .title rather inadequately suggests its scope. If Anglo-Irish literature means the Literature in English written in Ireland primarily for Irish readers, then the output of the last forty years—since Mr. Yeats began to publish—greatly outweighs the rest : and Mr. Law has passed lightly over this. But if, as he contends, it covers all the work provided by Irishmen in English, the proportion shifts. In any case, readers may well be thankful to have his full appreciation not only of Swift but of Berkeley, Burke and Goldsmith considered as Irish writers : while he may casilY be defended for lin ving said little about Conoreve and Farquhar, except that t heir names should not be-Forgotten when' Ireland's contribution to the literature of comedy in English is considered. He does well, too, to insist that oratory must not be neglected in a view of Irish literature, and that Grattan's oratory stands the test of time better than almost any other which was imme- diately effective. But he quotes as uttered with regard to Grattan the fine image by which Grattan himself explained Flood's failure in the British Parliament—saying that an oak of the forest does not endure transplantation.
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