SOME BOOKS OF VIE WEEK.
tender tins heading we 'notice such Books of the week as have not been reserved for review in other forms.]
Italy of the Italians. By Helen Zimmern. (Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. 6s. net.)—The first, and certainly not the least interesting, chapter in this volume is" The King." Miss Zimmern regards Victor Emmanuel III. as an uncommon personality, well naited for the very difficult position which he has to fill. For, indeed, Italy wants very skilful management, and her politicians do not help as much as they might. Extreme poverty and a fiscal system which presses hard upon those who are least able to bear it are among the problems which have to be dealt with. What is to be said of a Salt-tax so rigidly enforced that the whole coast is patrolled lest people should take sea-water for evapora- tion ? Miss Zimmern appropriately asks : "Can it possibly pay 9" After the King comes the "Press," of which much that is favourable is said here ; but there are certain features in it which, to say the least, we could do without,—witness the amusing skit on pp. 31-32. This is followed by chapters on" Litera- ture," "The Painters," various branches of "Art and Science," the "Agrarian Industry," "Commerce," &c. Much of the informa- tion given will be absolutely new to most English readers. We know one or two names of Italian men of letters, but who could give on the instant those of Italian painters and sculptors? We would especially commend to the attention of our readers the Chapter on Italian agriculture. It touches on various questions which, in one shape or another, concern us at home. Here is one significant fact. The duty on sugar is so heavy that the Italian fruit-grower has to export his fruit to be made into preserve else- where. The whole volumn is one of remarkable interest.
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