The Trial of Man: an Allegorical Romance. (John Murray. 6s.)
—The scheme of the very remarkable allegory to which an anonymous author gives the title of The Trial of Man can only be ooe pared in its boldness to the scheme of "Paradise Lost." And while we recognise considerable cleverness, and even power, in some of the scenes, the book as a whole leaves us regretting that Writers without the genius of Milton should attempt Miltonian tasks. The idea is that since the human race has shown, on earth, a slowness to progress beyond a certain point, a chosen man from one planet, and a chosen woman from another, shall be set down together to make a new beginning in a virgin world. Martin, the hero, is carried to heaven to be taught by angels the elements of the higher life, and when his educs.tian is sufficiently advanced angels again convey him to the new planet. On the way the heavenly escort is engaged in a fierce battle by the legions of hell, and later on devils invade the new world and tempt the new Adam and Eve. In much, the allegory follows the lines of all allegories, besides keeping close to orthodox tradition. But some new ideas are given significant prominence. Evolu- tion is recognised, and care is taken that the man, not the Woman, shall be the one to be deceived by the tempter.
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