The Fanzines of the World: Past and Present. By Cornelius
Walford. (E. Stanford.)—Mr. Walfora deserves the praise of having chosen a most interesting subject, and of having collected materials for treating it with the most conscientious industry. But his book is exceedingly disappointing. It may be said that consisting, as it does, of two papers road before the Statistical Society, and of a report of the discussions which followed the reading, it does not pretend to be readable ; but wo cannot but fool that a great opportunity of writing what should be at least as interesting as useful has been missed. Even the utility of the book is doubtful. An immense mass of materials has been collected, but has not been subjected to any criti- cal examination. In many cases, the authorities are not given ; and the statement, have not nnfrequently a form which does not commend them. In the first table, for instance, we find under A.D. 54, "England, —Grievous Famine." What is meant by " England " in A.D. 54 P this island, or some region near the mouth of the Elbe ? and who is the authority ? In A.D. 107 there was another famine, this time in " Britain ;" and another "iu England " in A.D. 160. Turning to another table, "The Groat Frosts of History," we are not more satis- fied. A number of statements, many of which are really quite incredible, are crowded together, and the reader is left without guidance, to put whatever value he pleases on them. "A frost from October 1st to February 26th, A.D. 759.760," is quite beyond belief. How do such legends arise ? Is it from such exaggerations as are now in every ono's mouth that the winter of 1878-9 began in Novem- ber, and lasted till July ? Here we do not find even recent events quite correctly given. The frost of '54.55 certainly lasted beyond February 24th, and that of '60-61 beyond January 5th. Wo wish that all this labour had beSn expended to more purpose.
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