A History ef Prance. By H. E. MarshalL (Henry Frowde
and Hodder and Stoughton. 7s. 6d. net.)—Miss Marshall gives pic- turesque incidents which will catch the attention of a child, but she also has an historical sense. She binds together her hundred short chapters so cleverly that she gives a really consecutive history of great interest. After glancing at the appearances of the Gauls in European history down to the failure of Vercingetorix, and briefly recording Attila's coming, she brings Clovis, the .Rois iainiants, and Charles Martel upon the scene. From Charlemagne onward the kings of France form the thread on which the story hangs, but the condition of the people and the foreign wars and policies are carefully indicated throughout. One is not surprised that Henri IV. should be put forward as a favourite hero, but the general fairness of the author to parties at home and enemies abroad is remarkable. The book ends with the establishment of the Third Republic and a paragraph of which the final words are "Viva l'Entente Cordiale !" It is illustrated by sixteen colour plates by A. C. Michael, which are well chosen as to scenes, and as pictures are above the average. Unfortunately the disadvantages of reproduction are enhanced by a vivid green border-line to each plate. There are also maps of France under Charlemagne and of Europe in Napoleon's day. Children could not do better than found upon this work a knowledge of French history.
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