North - Italian Folk: Sketches of Town and County Life. By Mrs..
Comyns Carr. (Chatto and Windus.)—These are sketches of the people to whom, says the author in her preface, " rather than to others in the land, belong the freedom and the freshness, the grace and good-hearted- ness, the frank honesty that find a place even beside worldly-wise prudence, the simple and courteous dignity which the educated classes have not always been able to maintain;" and very interesting and pleasing sketches they are, though the style wants simplicity, and errs occasionally in the effort to accomplish fine-writing. We hear, for in- stance, of "a picture climbing the horizon of the memory," about as curious an instance of confusion, if we come to examine it, as could easily be found. This criticism made, we have nothing but praise to give to this volume. The first part bears the title of " On the Riviera," and of the fourteen sketches which compose it, eight are of Genoa and Genoese folk, the other six of country life. Of the first, "B Negociante" (" The Shopman ") is a particularly spirited piece. The bargaining of the Contessa Capramonte with Signor Giordano, the silk-mercer, is told with a force which is quite dramatic. The old noble and his housekeeper,. in "La Donna di Casa " (" The Country Housekeeper ") give us a good. specimen of the second division. Part the second treats of the Apennines.. Here some sketches of the life of the priests, kindly folk, who are not worse and perhaps not much better than their lay neighbours, are specially noticeable. The description of "II Signor Capellano " (about equivalent to our" curate") when he is writing a love-letter, for se the poorly-paid priest ekes out his slender salary, for the fair Bianca, is very good. Altogether, Mrs. Comyns Carr describes what it is evident she knows- very well in a kindly spirit and with a skilful pen. The illustrations, though not of uniform merit, are agreeable and characteristic. Of the landscapes, the " View of Santa Margherita " is to be noted, and the " Parish Priest " among the figures.
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