Count L. N. Tole!oy. By Charles Saroloa, D.Litt. (T. Nelson
and Sons. ls.)—Dr. Sarolea has given us in bold outlines a sketch of Tolstoy's personality, life, and work. The book may be read, one may say, at a sitting, and; though it does not supersede the detailed biography, it has a usefulness of its own. Dr. Sarolea came to his task well prepared. Long a student of Tolstoy's writings, he was happily able to get a glimpse of the man himself. And the opportunity was used to good effect. That we get a clear, logical conception of what the man was cannot be said ; but nothing could give no that, and for the simple reason that such a thing does not and could not exist. He was a bundle of contradictions. "He disapproved of money ; nor did ho over carry any with him ; but he let a servant carry a purse in his stead. He disapproved of private property in land, and gave up all his property rights, including the copyright of his books, but he made them over to his wife. He disapproved of doctors; yet he was prevailed upon to have a resident doctor in his house, and he called him a secre- tary." All this is very perplexing; and so, in the highest degree, is the question whether the man was, on the whole, an influence for good or not, That lies beyond discussion here ; it will suffice to say that Dr. Sarolea's book will help us to deal with it,
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