C URRENT LITERATURE.
The Knapsack Guide for Travellers in Italy. (John Murray.)—Of all countries Italy is perhaps that for which a knapsack guide is least required, if that term is to be taken in an exact sense. It may, how- ever, fairly be applied to this volume regarded as one of a series. Already that part of Italy which is commonly visited by travellers is covered with a network of railways, and the few remaining gaps will be filled up in the course of next year. Henceforth the summer ex- cursionist will overrun Italy as ho now overruns France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. To this class this guide will be most useful. It is portable, and the information respecting modes of com- munication has been brought down to the last moment. In the matter of railways this is especially the case. It contains no less than twenty- 6ne maps of towns, besides plans of picture-galleries and churches. As the editor asks for corrections of errors, we mention that at p. 115 "Padua " should he "Pavia," or also "some of the lofty towers which" should be "some lofty towers like those which," &c. At p. 32 we read. of a tunnel " through which a derivation of the Serivia is carried to supply Genoa with water," and at p. 126 of a mountain pass "which limits with the Italian TyroL" These expressions are scarcely English, and the accurate style of Mr. Murray's handbooks has always hitherto been one of thoir chief recommendations. The guide is a very excellent one.
Previous page
