An Introductory History of England. By C. R. L. Fletcher.
(John Murray. 7s. 6d.)—The " uncomplimentary young gentle- men," who, Mr. Fletcher explains, were relatives of his own, were surely a little unreasonable in complaining that history was " intolerably dull." For some years past many more or less clever people have been endeavouring to do away with all causes for that reproach. Possibly they have failed ; possibly Mr. Fletcher will fail also, though he ought to succeed. He is admirably fresh and vigorous ; possibly he may seem to give something of a comic dress to the Muse of History. But any boy who has something stirring laeva in parte mamillae ought to find him easy to read. And he is a good guide also to the meaning of history. His appreciations of the English Kings, especially of those who seem to stand on the borderland of good and bad— Edward III., for instance—are excellent. Now and then we are inclined to differ. Surely he does not allow for the progress made by Continental civilisation in South-Eastern Britain when Caesar came. The Belgian Kings of that region used coined money. Caesar did not speak of the Cantii as longs humanissimi omnium Britannorum without reason.
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