William Law. A Study in Literary Craftsmanship. By Henri Talon.
(Rockliff. 8s. 6d.)
THis short study of the mystic of the early eighteenth century who had such an influence on the Wesley brothers is by a French student (whose English incidentally is remarkably good if somewhat flat). In a hundred pages M. Talon gives a biographical sketch, including Law's relationship with the Gibbon family, and then examines his controversial and mystical writings. Law has been called by Aldous Huxley " a master of English prose," and M. Talon discusses the quality of his writing and gives extracts. The controversies of the mos—reason against revelation—have become fusty period-pieces, but Law's mystical works in what he himself called a " style of love " have fervour and emotional depth in spite of some outworn symbolism. This rather dry little summary can only be an intro- duction to Law, but it crowds a good deal into a small space and makes some interesting comparisons with French writers.
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