Mr. Reginald Blunt's forthcoming book. "BY CHELSEA REACH," comprises a further collection of papers relating to interesting places and persons in that riverside quarter of extraordinarily varied historic associations. The book forms a sequel to Mr. Blunt's "PARADISE ROW," "IN CHEYNE WALK," and "THE WONDERFUL VILLAGE"; and those who found enjoyment in the entertaining records of those volumes will know what to expect.
Two Chelsea places to which special papers have been devoted form a striking antithesis; one being "Danvers' House," built by Sir John Danvers the Regicide, and occupied also by his beautiful wife, once the Lady Magdalen Herbert; by George Herbert the poet, her son; by John Donne, her old admirer and the great preacher Dean of St. Paul's; and subsequently by several other notable folk; and the other telling the story of "Cremorne Gardens," the nineteenth century Ranelagh, of which the chequered and rather questionable career ended amid so much excitement and opposition in 1877.
Two personal studies also relate to very different Chelsea celebrities, the first being Sir Hans Sloane, the famous collector, and founder of the British Museum; and the second, Mrs. Carlyle, by whom a fresh and very characteristic batch of letters to her young friend "Carina" are now for the first time given to the enjoyment of the many lovers of her delightful letters.
Mr. Blunt's new volume also contains two papers dealing with the Literary Workshops of Chelsea, old and modern. These describe the abodes and methods of work of a number of famous and interesting authors, and include descriptions of Sir Thomas More's famous house, Swift's poor lodging, Smollett's strange assemblies at Monmouth House, Leigh Hunt's unkempt abode, Carlyle's soundproof garret, Rossetti's studio and garden, and many other chronicles of the homes and intimacies of Chelsea authorship.
The book will be illustrated by a number of very interesting old prints, facsimiles, and photographs.
MY SOUTH AFRICAN YEAR
(1920)
By CHARLES DAWBARN. Author of "MAKERS OF NEW FRANCE," &c., &c.
With 30 Illustrations from Photographs. Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net.
"MY SOUTH AFRICAN YEAR," represents impressions of the well-known correspondent and writer, Mr. Charles Dawbarn, who toured extensively through the Union, studying for twelve months the politics, social life, and poignant controversies of the sub-continent. The author, whose works on France are in most libraries, is at his best in the book—according to the report of literary gossips: intimate and friendly to the great country he is describing: authoritative and explanatory by virtue of the privilege he enjoyed of coming into contact with South Africa's leading men.