10 AUGUST 1956, page 19

Rocky Going

THERE are too many bits and pieces in this book for it to be much of a literary success, which is a pity because Fisher is a good writer, a very good biologist and a first-rate......

Sixteenth Century

ENGLAND'S PRECEDENCE. By William McElwee. (Hodder and Stoughton, 21s.) THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE SECRETARIES OF STATE AND THEIR MONOPOLY OF THE LICENSED NEWS, 1660-1681. By Peter......

Down To Earth

QUEEN VICTORIA is said to have been surprised and perturbed when she was informed that Abraham was not the same kind of poten- tate as she was, but a wandering nomadic......

New China

CHINA: NEW AGE AND NEW OUTLOOK. By Ping-Chia Kuo. (Gollancz, 16s.) THERE is no lack of serious studies on Communist China, but the present volume by Dr. Ping-Chia Kuo is perhaps......