7 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 28

It may be pedantry to object to an abridgment of

Boswell's Johnson. It is not pedantry to open such an abridgment in a critical spirit. We do- not think, however, that the truest lovers of Dr. Johnson will grudge this " Boswell " to " Everybody," who has not -time to read very long books. In all probability, Everybody's Boswell, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (Bell, 10s. 6d.), will induce- a large number of readers- to make time for the complete edition. Besides, the dimensicms- Of the present volume are not small. Enough is preserved to__ show the mind- and soul, the humour and the wisdom of -the great Englishman.' Something of the setting of the portrait is gone, ,but no essential of the personality. The wit, the pluck, the piety, the bearishness and the polish are all here, for he had polish and gave his admirers no reason

cant in defence of savages." This would not be so true if some portion of the journey to the Hebrides had not been retained.