Naw EarrioNs. — The Personal History of David Copperfield. By Charles Dickens.
Illustrated in colour by Frank Reynolds. (Hodder and Stoughton. 15s. net.)—This is a handsome volume, not unworthy of a masterpiece. The printing, paper, &c., are excellent, and the illustrations interpret the text intelligently. " Betsy Trotwood" is particularly good. Here the original presents a difficulty. The Betsy Trotwood of the earlier days is very different from the sensible woman of the later. Mr. Reynolds gives us the second phase, while we may see a hint of the first. Both "Mr. Murdstone" and "Steer- forth " are good, the second especially, as one who " could smile and smile and be a villain." David, invited to dance by the elder Miss Larkins, is, perhaps, too insignificant.—A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Illustrated by A. C. Michael. (Same publishers. 6s. net.)—The illustrations are good, better, doubtless, when they have to do with the humour than when a spirit has to be pictured ; but who is equal to drawing a ghost? —Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Pictured by George Soper (Headley Brothers. 5s.)—Mr. Soper's pictures have just the sort of humour that suits the unrivalled quaintness of "Lewis Carroll's" humour.—Contes di Madame D'Aulnoy, Recueillis et Abreges par Kathleen FitzGerald, Illustrations &- Thomas Derrick, and Les Fables de La Fontaine, Choisies et Recueillies pour les Enfants par Kathleen FitzGerald, Muskies par T. C. Derrick (Siegle Hill et Cie.)—Through. the Sikh War, by G. A. Henty, 3s. 6d.; A Knight of St. John, by Captain F. C. Brereton, "a Tale of the Siege of Malta," 35. 6d.; The Princess and Curdie, by George Macdonald, 3s. 6d.; all published by Messrs. Blackie, and worthily representing three different varieties. Mr. Henty was a cosmopolitan writer, but he was never happier than when his subject touched some interest of empire; Captain Brereton knows how to give a present interest to the past; George Macdonald had an extraordinary gift of fancy. This is a story of goblins and jewels and strange adventures of all kinds, not without a moral, but with this very skilfully in- sinuated.
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