We have received a fifth. edition—the first appeared in 1897—
of A Life of William Shakespeare, by Sidney Lee (Smith, Elder, and Co., 7s. 6d.)—With this may be mentioned William Shakespeare: his Life, his Works, and his Teaching, by G. W. Rusden (Melville and Mullen, Melbourne, 10s. 6d. net). This is the work of a Shakespearian enthusiast, who has put together much interesting material, but seems to have had but limited opportunities of studying the literature that has sprung up in connection with the subject. He says, for instance, of the play of Henry VIII. that "it was announced as a joint work of Shakespeare and Fletcher." Now if this were the case much critical labour would have been saved. There are good reasons for assigning part to Shakespeare, and part to Fletcher. Those may be conveniently found set forth in Mr. Lee's Life on pp. 270-72. (Mr. Lee adds the name of Beaumont as a possible collaborateur.) We may remark, also, that though we do not believe that Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic, it is a little strange to read that any profits which may accrue from this work are to go to found "Shakespeare scholarships in seminaries of that Church of England of which Shakespeare was a member."—The results of criticism as they bear on Henry VIII. may be found well stated in an edition of the play in "The Picture Shakespeare" (Mackie and Son, ls.), a very useful and agreeable volume.
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