Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II. By
the Author of the Heir of Redclyffe. (Macmillan.)—The author writes for the young, who have, indeed, few better friends. For their benefit she selects picturesque scenes from history, and describes them with all the accuracy which she can command. It is doubtless true that thorough knowledge of the subject is not to be obtained in this way. Thorough knowledge is out of the reach of nine readers out of ten ; for ordinary scholars an attractive book like this will be far more useful than the tedious compilations which they read without attention ; in exceptional cases it may well act as a pleasant introduction to more complete studies. We do not pretend to vouch for the accuracy of all Miss Yonge's facts ; sometimes she purposely adopts, though not without giving a caution, statements of doubtful authority, if they have an interest that suits her story. And we certainly do not agree with all her estimates of charac- ter, with that of Becket, for instance, whom we hold to have been a violent, turbulent man stirred by that ambition which is not the less dangerous or evil because it is an ambition, not for a man's self, but for his order. But the book is one which we can heartily recommend.
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