Shakespeare, and other Lectures. By George Dawson, M.A. Edited by
George St. Clair. (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co.)— Some sixty lectures are collected here, lectures on all kinds of subjects ; for do they not begin with Shakespeare and end with " Beau Brummell " ? Shakespeare, however, in one way or another, occupies about a fifth part of the volume, lectures on Hamlet, Lear, Romeo and Juliet, the Sonnets and the Songs, being among this part of the contents, together with eight anniversary speeches. As for the rest of the book, it cannot be described, or, we may say, criticised, for to criticise would take us over a very wide domain of literature, history, morals, and art ; but we can honestly commend the whole to our readers. The lectures are reported with varying amount of skill. Miss Beauclerc, to whom the editor acknowledges special obligations, seems to have done the reporter's work with especial success. But the characteristics of a man whose thought was fresh and original, and expression vigorous, are seldom absent.
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