25 APRIL 1931, Page 26

" London (sang Dunbar) thou art of townes A-per-se," and

in our day very notably A-per-se in the number and variety of books that are written about it. The latest member of the choir of praise is Mr. Alan Ivimey's The Romance of London (Sampson Low, Marston, 12s. 6d.), designed particularly to Catch the American eye. The book' divides into four-the Seeds of Romance, historical and geographical ; the Flowering of Romance, when under Henry VIII London was probably the most beautiful city in Europe " (we love the Londoner's rusty patriotism) ; the Banishment of Romance, when on the rebuilding after the Great Fire the town took on an entirely different character ; and finally, Romance rediscovered, which

the author attributes rather curiously to one " Barry, an outlander." The book, historically useful, anecdotally copious and always pleasantly chatty, will hold the interest of any visitor from Minn. or Wis., so long as he doesn't have to carry it about with him.

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