Letters and Essays The Letters of George Eliot. Selected by
R. 'Brimley Jolm (John Lane. 6s.) People and Books. By W. Robertson Nicoll. . (Hodder and The Little Room-. By Guy Pocock. (Dent: 6s4 WE are already under obligation to Mr. Briinley Johnson for his selections from the eorrespondence of a number famous Englishwomen of the lait two centuries, and owe him a further debt of gratitude for his -.Letters of Geo Eliot. Once again Mr. Johnson proves- . himself a nth' criminating editor and a charming introducer.. In George Eliot he has found a letter-writer whose matter is pot interesting than her manner. Not that she lacks vivacious ness. " What we miss, however," says Mr. Johnson, " art the delightful trivialities . of description, conversation, incident on which the charm peculiar.. letter-writing wont to depend." George Eliot's humOur shows itself only in flashes. ":I have. always been finding out my relis since I was a little girl," says'. one of her characters ; and the words were applicable to herself. • Her letters reveal essentially serious temperament, full,. as the Quakers WO put it, of moral and intellectual. concerm"- But, if the! fail to make light reading, at least they help us to recapture the outlook of Victorian Nonconformity and the fighting spirit forced upon it by the barriers which it had to overcome. Of the emancipated Nonconformity of a later day, PoPk and Books, a selection from the writings of Robertson Nie°11' giveS us an admirable reflection. It is true that, in. th& present extracts from his work, the •late editor of the ;firi4 Weekly has little to say about Nonconformity as such, but, is mainly concerned with literature and literary men. awl'
which 'and 'whom- he, had such inexhaustible curiosity and knoWdedge. But this only accentuates more vividly the fact that (in no small measure through Nicoll's own labours) Nonconformity had by -thia. end of -last century 'entered into its intellectual heritage, and had no longer to struggle for its rights and privileges.
Mr. Blatehford's book,":"With its brief chapters and -parai graphs, contains stray observations and reflections uport subjects so diverse as cats and Russian literatUre,Socialisni and the beauty of Salisbury, burglars and the modern girl: A few satirical poems are included. Mr. Blatchford's pen has lost nothing of its terseness and limpidity. But in spirit he seems to have mellowed. He has certainly given us no hook in which there is gentler humour or tenderer Sentiment.
Mr. Mursell is an unsophisticated and unpretentious writer, but his volume, which is " the simple record of happy and memorable hours spent in the. company of favourite books, and a tribute of gratitude to their authors," is written with a sincerity and enthusiasm which many cleverer critics might well envy. Mr. Mursell has, moreover, the gift of friendliness, and none but incorrigible " highbrows " could fail to enjoy his genial musings. Dickens and Stevenson arc Mr. Mursell's idols. But he exhibits a catholic taste.
If Mr. Mursell makes us feel at home in his library, Mr. Pocock welcomes us into a " Little Room " that is library, studio, museum and music-room combined. Having described the " ideal room " which he has recently furnished, Mr. Pocock lets his fancy play freely around the objects within it, and gives us a series of delicate and whimsical essays that have something of the Cranford atmosphere and charm. The illustrations by Mr. Henry Sands add the final touch of distinction to an original and delightful book.
Previous page
