History of the Waldenses of Italy. By Emilio Comba. (Truelove
and Shirley.)—Dr. Comba, of the Waldensian Theological College, Florence, would seem at first to be all that a historian of the brave people that defied the thunders of Rome should be. He is learned, a scholar, and an enthusiast; and yet, after all, we cannot call his work a history. Instead of writing a calm and consecutive narrative of the events which occurred from Waldo's time to the Reformation, he has given us a story indeed, but a story in which historical sequence is scarcely preserved at all ; sometimes eloquent, often incoherent, and full of argument and polemics, and which is constantly stopped to discuss either the Waldenses or their religion. Their religion was an essential part of their State ; but when expelled from the Roman Church, they became a separate people, and as such had a history apart from mere doctrine. Then, too, where are the map and the index ? The geography as it is, is vague, especially to those who are not Italians ; and there is hardly any information about the Crusades. Dr. Comba evidently knows a great deal about the followers of Waldo, but we must subscribe to the " great authority " whom he quotes, that " the history of the ancient Waldenses certainly remains to be written."
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