29 JANUARY 1910, Page 46

The Merchant of Venice. With Illustrations by Sir James D.

Linton. (Hodder and Stoughton. 10s. 6d. net.)—After the pumped-up originality and pseudo-stylistic qualities of the illustrations in the books we have been reviewing, it is a relief to come upon these frankly unimaginative costume-pictures. Instead of being in a whirl of mysterious lines and impossible colours, the men and women of the drama move about in the light of common day and show off their gorgeous dresses. Better by far a slice of ,plain, even if slightly stale, bread than fantastic

cakes half baked. .