387. Hereward, the Last of the English. By C. Kingsley. (Macmillan) 6s.
But we should prefer the former of the two for younger and simpler readers.
388. Lady Sybil’s Choice. By Emily S. Holt. (Shaw) 5s.
Miss Holt’s tales will be enumerated in their order of chronology, but the following description must be understood to apply to all. Manners and customs, history and chronicle, are minutely studied; but the mediæval Church is never understood, and sympathy is uniformly with those who separated from it. What is especially to be regretted is that there are often innuendoes and even more direct attacks on present practices and opinions, which the author thinks a return to what she reprobates.
389. The Knight’s Ransom. By Mrs. Valentine. (Warne) 2s. 6d.
Greatly relished by young people. It is founded on the legend of the lady whose hand was the ransom of her crusading knight.
390. The Betrothed. By Sir Walter Scott.
Belonging to the higher order of literature. Bringing out the state of things on the Welsh border under Henry II., not accurately but impressively.
391. The Talisman. By Sir Walter Scott. Scott’s novels may be had at any price from 6d. upwards. It is of no use to specify publisher.
The master hand has lighted up the relations between Cœur-de-Lion and Saladin. There is no need to touch on the inaccuracies where the scene is made so real.