The Lord of All. 2 vols. (Chapman and Hall.)—Why does
the- writer of this novel suppose that we shall not be interested in the scenes of life in Rome except the principal actors therein are our own country- men ? On the contrary, we are sometimes glad, in fiction, as in fact, to. get away from our compatriots ; and we are certainly more easily pleased when the dramatis personce are foreigners, for the simple reason, that we are not familiar with and cannot judge so critically their talk and costume. Nothing can be conceived more wearisome and dull than one group of English characters which the writer of the Lord of All has introduced, the vulgar Mrs. Linde and her two daughters; while, on the other hand, Teresina, the model, and her rustic lover, and the professor, with his timid patriotism, seem lively and graphic sketches. There is no sort of plot, there is hardly even an incident, except the abduction of a young lady by a party of sham brigands. In fact, the novel is a succession of little illustrations of the author's thesis, some of them worked out prettily enough, but not connected together with any artistic skill. Love triumphs over a Radical who has turned Tory, and a Tory who has turned Radical, an artist, an aristocratic fox- hunter, a devout Catholic maiden, and even an Anglican convert to. Rome, who, moved by the persuasions of an old flame, himself persuades the Catholic maiden to accept the Radical. As this gentleman has
a wish to see altars smoking to Jupiter, this is rightly con- sidered the greatest triumph of all, and winds up the book. Persons who will be satisfied with easy and pleasant dialogue, pretty descriptions. of Roman scenery, and sketches of life which aim at presenting manners rather than character, will find this a very readable book ; but they must avoid the Linde family.
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