The True Life of Captain Sir R. F. Burton. By
Georgiana, Stisted. (H. S. Nichols.)—The writer is Sir R. Burton's niece, and claims to have written this book "with the authority and approval of the Burton family." Her object, as she describes it in the preface, is twofold : "To tell the truth about one who can no longer defend himself," and to give us "the story of the great traveller's life in a popular form." As to the first it is needless to say much. Miss Stated is not by any means a partisan. She admires Richard Burton, but is not always defending him. On the whole her book will leave much the same im- ression on the reader as he will probably have brought to its perusal. The second object is successfully attained. The story is succinct and clear, full of interest, and worthy of its sub- ject. We do not like the tone in which Burton's wife is spoken of, whether it be " approved " or not by the Burton family. And we must express a most decided dissent from what Miss Stisted says about the translation of the "Arabian Nights," and the still more objectionable work which Lady Burton very properly burnt. Burton, whatever his good qualities, was distinctly deficient in the moral sense.
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