SOME BOOKS OF TRH WEEK.
[Under this hauling we notice such Books of the wed: as have not been reserved for review is other formal The Literature of Roguery. By Frank Wadleigh Chandler. 2 vols. (A. Constable and Co. 12s. net.)—" Roguery," says Mr. Chandler in his preface, making an obviously necessary definition," must be
distinguished from villainy the latter is the creature of malice the former is less vicious, it regards rascality
with humour, or explains it as the result of social environment." There is something faulty here ; the subject is changed in the second sentence ; " it " stands for the author's conception. More enlightenment is got from the illustrations, taken from a source.. where such illustrations are the best and easiest found. "Falstaff is not to be mistaken for Iago." The two are indeed types. Of course, Mr. Chandler finds himself under the necessity, when he - comes to deal with his subject in detail, of enlarging his scope. The Thug whose confessions are so admirably given by Meadows Taylor was not a "rogue"; yet it would not have been wise to leave the book without notice. Mr. Chandler's work is a very comprehensive and generally excellent study. I glance at the index shows how careful and how
wide has been his research. The only name of importance that we find missing is Grant Allen. A little portrait gallery of rogues may be found in Grant Allen's fiction, and their figures and features are excellently drawn. The source of the literature of roguery Mr. Chandler finds in Spain. It was not unknown to the Greek Comedy, the Old as we have it in the original, and the New as Plautus and Terence have preserved it for us; but it becomes more definite in Spanish fiction. France was not far behind in adopting the subject, and it has become naturalised, so to speak, in this country. Each branch is industriously and skilfully traced by our author. His book is a. distinctly valuable addition to the series to which it belongs,—" Types of English Literature," edited by Mr. William Allen Neilson.
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