Sicily and England. By Tina Whitaker (née Scalia). (A. Con-
stable and Co. 103. 6d. net.)—Mrs. Whitaker prefixes an "historical Introduction," which takes us back to the eleventh century. Sicily had very much the same start as England, falling into the hands of a capable Norman, who, as our author remarks, had the advantage over his contemporary the Conqueror in having what looked like better material to work upon. It is too much to say that "civilization was only beginning to dawn" in the country of Bede and Alfred. Yet Sicily was certainly far in advance of England. But the country has had ill fortune ; or is there something in the air that tends to perversity ? Again and again from the earliest times we seem to see great oppor- tunities lost. Mrs. Whitaker, by inheritance and by her own knowledge, has the best right to tell the story of Sicilian patriotism in the nineteenth century. Her maternal grandfather, Pompeo Anichini, was a friend of Mazzini ; on her father's side she comes of an old Sicilian family. Here the revolutionary element was intro- duced by the grandfather's wife, a Serretto, who was actually initiated into the secret society of the Carbonari. Her children inherited her fiery spirit, and were convinced friends of reform, though they both belonged to the moderate party. Here, then, we may read the story of the struggle for freedom, relieved, one is not sorry to find, with something of less serious personal detail. Mrs. Whitaker has spent part of her life in England, has Seen many people worth knowing, and has much to tell us about them. Not the least valuable part of the book is the last chapter. The author writes about modern Italy, and not a little of what she says has a significance for us. No one has a better right to speak about reform—her family has suffered much in the cause— and the politicians who are so eager to make a clean sweep of powers and traditions that do not please them might profitably study her words.
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