7 MARCH 1891, Page 26

In the Valley. By Harold Frederic. 3 vols. (W. Heinemann.)

—This is a remarkably well-written story of the War of Inde- pendence in America, War and love are mingled together in it. The two rivals for the love of the fair Daisy are also enemies, Douw Mauverensen, a lad of German extraction, who tells the story, and Philip Cross, taking opposite sides in the great struggle between Tories and Patriots. The special subject of the tale, as far as the military part of it is concerned, is the unlucky expedi- tion of the Americans into Canada, An episode in this is told with much spirit ; and the meeting of the two enemies, when Philip has been wounded, is made into a finely dramatic situation. Altogether, the story is both well studied and powerful. The author has spared no pains in studying the details of the life which he seeks to describe, and has succeeded in making it a reality to his readers.