Life's Anchor, by Harriet E. Colvile (R.T.S., 2s. 6d.), "a
tale of the days of Dr. Johnson and Hannah More," is not altogether easy to write. Dr. Johnson is not so difficult a character as some, for we can get his ipsissima vertex, but others do not admit of the same resources. Still, Miss Colvile has taken much pains with her bet*, and made it fairly successful. —Daisy's Dilemmas, by Mrs. Hart (Cassell and Co., 2s.), describes the pranks of a naughty child. We must own that we find her a little tiresome even on paper. But perhaps a " grown-np " can hardly judge. —Barfield's Blazer, and other School Stories. By W. E. Gale. (Andrew Melrose.)—The story that gives a name to the book is not a good specimen. " Murchison's New Fag" is a better one, a really humorous fancy.—Other school stories are The Bravest of the Brave, by H. Atteridge (Cassell and Co., Is. 6d). and To School and Away (same author and publishers, Is. 6d.) —Lichtenstein (E. Nister, 3s. 6d.) is adapted from the German of Wilhelm Hauff by L. E. Weedon. It is a tale of Germany in the early part of the sixteenth century, the hero being Duke Ulrich, of Wiirtemberg. The subject is somewhat remote from the interests of English readers. On the other hand, Hauff had the gift of romance. —A Book of Dragons. By E. Nesbit. (Harper and Brothers. 6s.)—A. handsomely illustrated book, with stories, as the title would indicate, of the extravagant kind.— Friends, Old and New : Twenty German Nursery and Fairy Tales, refold- by Sophie Hirch (Elliot Stock, Os.), is rightly named. Whether old or new, the stories are told in the right way. —A Trip to Many Lands, by William J. Forster (S. W. Partridge, 2s. 6d.), is meant to do good,—i.e., to teach geography by stealth. It has abundance of pictures to recommend it.
Previous page
