CURRENT LITEILATURE.
ART BOOKS.
Gothic Architecture in England and France. By George Herbert
West, D.D., (G. Bell and Sons. 6s. net.)—This is a very interesting book, written by one who appreciates both the spirit and the construction of the great cathedrals of France and England. The similarities and differences of these buildings in the two countries are compared and discussed, and a good deal of space is devoted to describing methods of construction with diagrams. This part is by no means the least interesting portion of the book. The more it is realized how complicated a perform- ance Gothic building is the more we wonder at the powers of the builders who could rear vast structures which seem to defy the laws of solidity, and yet stand for hundreds of years. Mr. West notes the curious difference of attitude towards windows of the French and English builders. The former treated themes screens under an arch to keep out the weather, while the latter considered them as openings in a wall to lot in light.
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