NEW BOOKS AND EDITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 92, 11 January 1908, Page 13

NEW BOOKS AND EDITIONS.

Tho works of Beaumont and Fletcher, in ten volumes (4s. 6d. per vol.). Edited by A. it. Waller, id,A. Cambridgo English. Classics. Cambridge': Tho University Press. Vols I—V.

This monumental edition of Beaumont and Fletcher, bogun m ISJUS, has now reached its iifth volume. By the time that it is completed, studoilts and book-lovers will have at a moderato prico what will probably remain ''tho" edition of tho plays. In "get-up," tho voluinos 1 loavo nothing to bo desired. Tho sizo is comfortable, the papor light and good, and the type a clear and dignified oldface. Tho aim of the editor had been to givo ail exact reproduction of the last edition (Second Folio) that lias tho authors' authority. With the excoption of slight corrections of manifest misprints and "litorals" the text is in ovory other detail left untouched. At the 'end of each volume is givon an appendix of all tho variorum readings in the Quartos and the two Folios, the body pages being loft free from footnotes or the irritating guesswork that is tho weakness of most modern editions of tho Elizabethan_ and post-Elizabethan drama. Tho edition is, indeed, tho last word in the reprinting of Beaumont and Fletcher. The plays in tho first five volumes aro: Tho Maids Tragedy, Philaster, A King and no King, Tho Scornful, Lady, ,Tho Custom of the Country; Tho Elder' Brothor, Tho Spanish Curato, Wit without Money, Beggars Bush, Tho Humorous Lieutenant, The Faithful Shepherdess; The Mad Lover, Tlio Loyal Subject, Rule a Wife and Have a Wifo, The Laws of Candy, Tho False Ono, Tho Littlo French Lawyer; Tho Tragedy of Valentinian, Monsieur Thomas, Tho Chalices, The Bloody Brother, The Wild Goose Chase; A Wife for a Month, The Lovers Progress, Tho Pilgrim, Tlio Captain, Tho Prophetess.

Wo have received from Messrs. Rivington, London, two French text-books for beginners and juniors, edited by W. G. Hartog, 8.A., and published at Is. and 2s. 0. respectively. "Historicttes" is a collection of interesting anecdotes in simple language. A moro. advanced text-book, "Fables En Proso Et En Vers," is intended for pupils in their second year of study. In this, selected fables of La Fontaine and Florian aro first told in very simple prose, followed by questions and exercises, and thou the fablo is given in verso. From the same publishers we have received one of a series of text-books ■ of English History intended especially for the middle and upper forms of schools, and for the Local Examinations. This deals concisely and interestingly with, "The Expansion of Great Britain," and is compiled by Arthur Hassall, M.A., editor of "Periods of English History." The orico is >3a.