Glimpses of Tennyson and Some of his Relations and Friends.
By Agnes Grace Weld. (Williams and Norgate. 4s. 6d. net.)—This is a delightful little book written by one who has all the qualifications for the task,—the opportunities of observation, the interest of rela- tionship, and the sympathetic and appreciative temper. The first chapter is given to the Tennyson and Bellwood families, a large proportion of the space being assigned to Charles Tennyson Turner and his charming home at Grasby. Charles was the mead of the band of six brothers, and was a man of singularly gentle and amiable temper. As a poet it was his lot to be the fratercuius gigantic. His wife was the youngest of the Bellwood sisters, as Alfred Tennyson's was the eldest, Miss Weld's mother being the second. Chap. 2 is entitled "Freshwater Days," and is supplemented by chap. 4, of which the subject is "Talks with Tennyson." It was the poet's habit to walk every morning for a couple of hours or so. In chap. 3 we hear of Freshwater friends, conspicuous among them being the well-known W. G. Ward and Mrs. Cameron, a pioneer in the practice of truly artistic photo- graphy, and a woman of large heart and cultivated intelligence. We do not attempt to criticise this book, but only to give such a description as will send our readers to it.
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