THE GENERAL'S RING. By Selma Lagerliif. (The Electric Library. Werner
Laurie, 3s. 6d.).—This little volume contains some chapters in the earlier history of the Liiwensfeld family, which dominates the Viirmland of the authoress's infancy, and is regarded with an odd mingling of satire and respect. The ring, given to the grim old general Bengt Lowensfeld by the idolised Charles XII. of Sweden, is stolen from his buried hand by a foolish peasant. The spirit of the general mercilessly pursues the gem, and, in the course of time, three innocent farmers suffer death because the Judgment of God is interpreted against them by the caprice of the old king. Many old stories are garlanded about the central theme ; and the episodes arc softened with indulgent comment, as if an old woman were murmuring the tales by the fireside. The final twist of events, by which the sinister old general recovers his ring, is neatly tied up with a grimace unexpectedly rueful and ironical. The little farms lie among the great forests ; and the figures are expressive and simple like the folk in ancient wood carving. The whole story is fresh, naive, but tart, like cranberries found under snow.
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