3 OCTOBER 1885, Page 22

Corinna. By Rita. B vols. (J. and R. Maxwell.)—This is

a powerful novel. We cannot help wishing that Corinna had pre- ferred her English to her Russian lover, and the splendid self- sacrifice of the former 'seems to deserve some reward. Perhaps, however, the tale is none the worse for discarding the fairy-story conclusion. Behind the main action lies a dark background of Nihilist intrigue, which gives the writer occasion to say some hard things of the Russian Government. The short story, "Edelweiss," which is also concluded in these volumes, is not without some pathetic interest.