From the North Foreland to Penzance. By Clive Holland. Illustrated
by Maurice Randall. (Chatto and Windus. 12s. 6d. net)—" The most important or most picturesque of the harbours and seaports" is the phrase with which Mr. Holland defines his subject in the opening sentence of his preface. He does not exactly observe this limit. He has something to say about Minster, which is some miles from the sea; about Sandwich, which is technically a port, but certainly not a harbour; and about other places which a yacht traveller, as our author is supposed to be, could not see. But we make no complaint of these digressions. It would, indeed, be a. pity to miss the interesting details for the intro- duction of which they often afford the occasion. The first chapter is given to the Cinque Ports and to other places on the lieetish coast. The second begins with Hastings—surely the cliffs which witnessed the Conqueror's landing in 1066 were not "white"— passes Pevensey with a brief notice; makes a bare mention of Eastbourne, which is "too new to have a history"; describes Beachy Head, of which there is an excellent drawing ; and' so on to Seaford, Brighton; and the rest of the Sussex coast. We cannot, however, follow our author's journeyings. They are always related in a pleasant, picturesque way. He has, too, a well-assorted library in his yacht cabin or elsewhere, and 118.3
made a good use of it. And wherever he takes us he has a most able assistant in Mr. Maurice Randall, who sets off the text with some highly attractive pictures.
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