The Age of Johnson. By Thtsmas Seccombe. "Handbooks of English
Literature." (George Bell and Sons. 3s. 6d.)—Mr. Seccombe has certainly done his best in this very interesting volume to dissipate the contempt (if contempt there be) for eighteenth-century literature of which he complains so bitterly. We suppose that a slight confusion is unavoidable in the system of arrangement adopted by Mr. Seccombe, by Which an author's work is dealt with in different chapters in his several literary capacities. This is particularly noticeable in such a man as Goldsmith, who was "poet, naturalist, historian," and makes the book one that we should recommend more to the advanced student of literature than the beginner. On the whole Mr Sfevombe's literary criticisms are excellent—we cannot agree as heartily with the political and social views enunciated in the preface—and he has the courage of his opinions, for in the case of Gray he opposes the generally accepted theory by declaring that the sterility of the poet's genius was caused by his nature rather than the period he lived in. We are very glad to see that Mr. Seceombe protests vigorously against the impression—less general now, we hope, than it used to be—that Boswell is " the foolish and irresponsible author of a wise and great book."
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