Old Squire. By B. K. Benson. (Macmillan and Co. 6s.)—Mr.
Benson has succeeded in making his new story of the American Civil War very picturesque. The reader in the course of the book comes to feel a real attachment for Old Squire, the faithful negro who gives it its title. At the same time, those who are not intimately acquainted with the details of the war will find the novel rather bewildering reading. It is not made any easier to follow by the likeness between two of the characters who are brothers, though educated away from each other, and who are fighting on opposite sides. Their likeness is, of course, made the peg for certain adventures which are likely to be as puzzling to the reader as they were to the Federal Army. Americans, of course, are so familiar with the details of the campaigns that they will have no difficulties in following the story, but English people who want to enjoy a really good book will do well to look up a short history of the; war before embarking on the history of Old Squire's adventures.
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