Through Russian Snows. By G. A. Henty. (Mackie and Son.)
—Of course it was necessary for Mr. Henty to is ing his two heroes —he puts the office of hero into commission, so to speak—into Russia, and to arrange for their meeting. But the result is that only a small part of the book is occupied with "Russian Snows," or is, as the sub-title has it, "a Story of Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow." There are three hundred and fifty-two pages in the volume, and we do not cross the Russian frontier till we rcach p.185. The Retreat commences on p. 253 ; but Julian (one hero) has nothing more to do with it after p.290. This is all the grumbling that we have to do. Mr. Henty's story is good, if it is not quite as good as some that we have had from him. The incident of the Countess Stephanie is cleverly contrived, and makes that part of the narrative in which she appears very pleasantly effective. It would not be fair to say anything that would spoil the effect of ihe plot. It will be tnongh to assure our readers that, putting the question of title aside—and after all, this matters but very little—they will find their time well repaid by Through Russian Snows.
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