Our Soldiers and the Victoria Cross. Edited by S. 0.
Boeton. (Ward, Lock, and Tyler.)—The chapters which compose this volume appeared in a boys' magazine, and the book itself is intended for boys. No doubt, such an audience will be tolerant of much miscellaneous matter on mili- tary subjects which would not attract civilian readers. But the accounts of the deeds of valour which have given many the envied affix of V. C. are not sufficiently plain and straightforward for boys. They deal too much in the hints and allusions by means of which well known facts are invested with a new interest, and a compliment is paid both to reader and writer. This style succeeds well in a magazine, for it is eminently fitted for short papers and a general circle. But in a book it becomes tiring. We should rather expect boys to construct a special history of the deeds of valour out of the illustrations, which are practical enough, and not to turn from the waving of bearskin caps, the smoke, and the gleam of bayonets to the allusive text, that disdains such incidents of warfare.
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