29 JANUARY 1910, Page 45

CURRENT LITERATURE.

ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.

Uncline. Adapted from the German by W. L. Courtney, and Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. (W. Heinemann. 7s. 6d. net.)— Mr. Courtney's adaptation of Fouque's well-known story does not strike us as happy. The English might be described as that of a Wardour Street edition of the "Monte Darthur." We miss the peculiar flavour of poetry and sentiment we are accustomed to associate with Undine. The illustrations are what we should have imagined they would be had we heard that Mr. Rackham was illustrating the work. As might be expected, contorted tree- branches play a considerable part in the backgrounds out of which emerge the artist's favourite goblins. Undine herself might best be described as a near relation of "Alice."