17 JUNE 1911, Page 26

Eight Centuries of Portuguese Monarchy, by V. de Braganca Cunha

(Stephen Swift. 15s. net), since it covers the whole history og Portugal from the earliest times to last October, is necessarily more in the nature of a sketch than of an elaborate history. The state of affairs revealed in it is scarcely likely to encourage hopes as to the permanence of the new regime. Much of the criticism in the volume is somewhat frank, but, as the author remarks, criticism "cannot be considered abusive if it be made with the intention of stirring up the forces of reform and remedy- ing the defects which it discloses." The book contains a full bibliography and some cleverly drawn portraits.