WORKS OF REFERENCE:-
The Annual Register, 1922. Edited" by Dr. 11.: Epstein. (Longman. 30s. net.) The domestic history of the past eventful year is luckily summarized in 144 pages. Those who know and remember the workings of the political machine will observe with interest and some amusement how cautiously the chronicler glides over the main event of the early months of 1922—Lord Younger's frustration of Mr. Lloyd George's desire to precipitate an election in the interests of a " National " party, otherwise the Coalition perpetuated. There are, of course, references in speeches to the proposal for an early election, but Lord Younger, so far as we can see, is not mentioned. We cite the case not to discredit the Annual Register, which within its limits is simply invaluable, but to illustrate the almost inevi- table defects that characterize a would-be colourless record produced immediately after the events with which it deals. The foreign and colonial summaries are somewhat less dis- passionate. The usual chronicle is followed by intelligent reviews of literature and art, finance and commerce and law, some select documents of importance and an obituary. The index is still a weak point : it ought to be much fuller.
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