22 MAY 1897, Page 24

A Bookworm's Birthday - Book. (J. M. Dent and Co.) — We cannot do

better than explain the method in which this very interesting volume has been put together than by quoting the prefatory note :—" The plan of this book is to mark, as far as possible, each day of the year by the name of some person really born upon that day ; and to add either some characteristic saying of the person whose birthday it is, or some reference to him by others. As, however, some birthdays fall upon the same day, and as the birthdays of some persons, and sometimes the day of their death also, is unknown, names are occasionally placed upon the day of death, or upon the day of some remarkable event associated with them, or in a few cases arbitrarily." In all cases where it is possible, the real dates are supplied.