A General Sketch of the History of Persia. By Clements
It. Mark- ham. (Longmans.)—The visit of the Shah naturally suggested a big volume about Persia, and it was necessary, of course, that the writer of such a volume should make it a sort of commentary on the phrase which spoke of the Shah as the successor of Darius. Accordingly, Mr. Mark- ham gives us, in his first chapter, a sketch of the early Persian history, in which he says :—" The chief authority is the famous poet Ferdosi," though for the "actual historical facts," which seem to be somehow different from the history, "we are dependent upon Herodotus, Ctesias, and other Grecian writers." "Actual historical facts" have no charm, however, for our author, for we hear nothing more of Herodotus and company, and are obliged to be satisfied with Ferdosi. Alexander is dis- missed with a couple of lines, and the Parthian Monarchy with about a page. The fact is that Mr. Markham ought not to have attempted this part of his subject. When he is fairly started with the history of Persia after the Mohammedan conquest he is more at home, and his book assumes a value which the vague and imperfect sketch with which it begins does not promise. But here, too, the strictly modern portion is probably bettor than the earlier parts, which are necessarily passed over with less than duo care, while still better are the geographical chapters, in which Mr. Markham speaks with authority.
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