The manner in which history is presented to children is
a source of frequent and ardent controversy. Particularly in modern Europe an increasing importance is attached to the early moulding of young opinion. It is agreed that some simplification is necessary, and it seems that children like to concentrate on individual characters in uncomplicated heroic or villainous piles. There is however an admirable tendency recently to mitigate the old-style rigid narrative accessi6ns, deaths and militafahafierritiona:: IirtheSetwo books
(Methuen: 13 2s. 94,--„yar. 2, 3s) WilliarTaii-Ellis and Mr. Fisher ,Vol.'have Made a 'pialseiiotthy tikfifiroiiitse between the limitations of their audience and the desire to set historical events in a more balanced.perspective. Their most imoottegit Mixiikeation is to fill7in that- haattgrOlinii;;_so Mygt-eriaiitly empty in the days of our own schooling, which was occupied by the common run of people. The reader is prompted to compare the populations of cities, the methods of production, the diet and clothes and „housing of his ancestors with the detail of his own environment. In general the attempt to por- tray the conditions of ordinary sober life off the battlefield is successful. Where statistics are introduced they are cleverly pictorialisecl ; the increase in population is nicely conveyed by a regiment of mannikins who go through the wardrobe of period costume until they have multiplied to the bowler- hatted army of today, In tempqr the books _belonglo the liberal/ fabian school of thOught, and avoid the eitreInes of political tendentiousness. The illustrations are numerous and have been`taitefulljr ebbsen.;'.ii is certainly a wise innova- tion to have invited children to use their inquisitive eyes in amplification of what they read. The two books are hand- somely produced, and it is 'to be hoped that they will be recognised as a considerable improvement in, elementary teaching. The period covered at ' preient ends with Henry VII ; when the series is complete it should make good and attractive reading for children who ask thoughtful questions.
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