Mr. H. Avray Tipping, in the second volume of the
third period of English Homes (Country Life, £3 3s.), sketches the history and describes the architecture of thirty of the best examples of Late Tudor and Early Stuart houses. The book is beautifully produced and it is clear from the many photo- graphs illustrating the descriptions that Country Life has no more to learn in this particular art. But the book is so large and so heavy that it will fit no bookcase and is extremely difficult to read—indeed, one feels that the only fitting home for such an imposing volume would be the spacious hall of one of those mighty mansions to whose glory it owes its existence. There is a delightful description of a visit by Pepys to Audley End, where, he tells us, " I played on my flageolett, there being an excellent echo." He was not indiscriminate in his praises, for on seeing the tapestries he declared.there was " not one good suit of hangings in all the house but all most ancient things such as I would not give the hanging up of in my house." lie had nothing but good to say, however, of the cellars, "where we went down and drank of much good liquors."
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