12 APRIL 1902, Page 23

Maseppa. By Fred Whishaw. (Chatto and Windus. 6s.)— The hero

of this novel is Byron's hero. Russia, with Ivan and Peter as joint Czars, furnishes, after the preliminary equestrian adventure, the scene and time in which the novel begins, and the battle of Pultowa is its ultimate goal. Readers who like to illustrate their history with fiction relating to the same date will find a good opportunity of studying those rough and stirring times in this novel. The present writer personally, however, prefers history unadulterated.