In The Austrian Tyrol (Faber and Faber. 15s.) Mr. Morrow
has written a book of a type which is very diffi- cult to do well, but very attractive when it is successful. It is a leisurely, scholarly book which is neither quite a guide-book nor quite a history, nor a purely personal record of wandering, but partakes of all three. Mr. Norman Douglas did this supremely in his Old Calabria, and if Mr. Morrow has neither Mr. Douglas's wit, nor his super-polished style, nor quite all his curious erudition, yet the fact that the comparison suggests itself is to pay him no mean tribute. This is, in fact, a most competent and agreeable book, ob- viously the fruit of many years' travel and much reading on " the land of the mountains." The historical portions in particular are excellent, considerably better than the descrip- tive, in which Mr. Morrow's touch is not always quite sure. No traveller in the Tyrol, however, whatever his interests, can fail to find the pleasure of his journey enhanced if he will take this book with him, as well as the still necessary guide-book. There are some beautiful photographs, but the map might have been better.
* *
Previous page
