An Advanced History of Great Britain. By T. F. Tout,
M.A. (Longmans and Co. 5s.)—Professor Tout completes his series of English histories for schools with a third volume, which is suited to the requirements of school-leaving examinations. To appre- ciate rightly a work which has a purpose so large is no small matter; in fact, its real value cannot be fixed except by experi- ment. But such examination as we have been able to make by a reference to crucial points leads us to think highly of Professor Tout's book. He does not omit important matters ; he deals with controversial points in a moderate and reasonable way. Admirers of the Scottish Mary will resent the decision with which he judges that lady, though he gives her credit for the good that she possessed. Her death became her more than her life. The difficult question of "Catholic v. Protestant" he answers in a way which will not please extremists on either side. He affirms that Campion was "as much of a martyr as any of the Protestants who suffered under Mary"; but he would not have conceded the same title to Parsons if that active partisan had fallen into the hands of his enemies. Anglicans who maintain that the real creed of their Church is that which Henry VIII. held up to the end of his life will not find a supporter in Pro- fessor Tout. The complicated politics of Charles II.'s reign are set forth with special clearness. This chapter seems to us one of the best in the book. That which follows, "James II.," errs perhaps a little on the side of brevity. These three years and a half shaped British destinies. The statement that in 1739 "the Methodists first built chapels of their own," as it stands, is likely to give a false impression. The volume is illustrated throughout with serviceable maps, &c.
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