14 DECEMBER 1867, Page 24

Nursery Tales. A New Version. By Mrs. R. Valentine. (F.

Warne and Co.)—We object on principle to the critical method being applied to that portion of the early history of mankind of which the scene is laid in the nursery. Whether the traditions which we have learnt are improbable or not, they are sacred, and it is certain that they will not be improved by being made more natural. Mrs. Valentine's alterations and additions do not seem to us happy. • When we were promised "a new version" on the outside of the book, we thought it possible that Miss Thackeray's success had given her an imitator. But there is no such novelty as that in Mrs. Valentine's work, and we think she would have done well not to change what she cannot better.