HISTORICAL STORIES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 19

HISTORICAL STORIES

"More Boys and Girls ■ oi' History." By lthoda and Eileen Power. Cambridge: University Press. " Illustrated History." By Reginald

Pound. .London: Geoffrey Bles,

Encouraged by the success of a previous volume on simitar lines the joint authors have produced another series of stories of children who have helped in tho making of history, dealing chiefly this time with those who witnessed and shared in the adventures of establishing outposts of the British Empire. Cook's visit to New Zealand is one episode, but it is a pity that a no bettor picture of a Maori pa was not included than of Polack's, published in 1838, one which is inaccurate in many respects. Otherwise this is an attractive book, which should be appreciated by the rising generation. The subject of the end' papers is a Mercator map of tho world in antique style, drawn by Elinor Lambert, and showing tho routes taken by Cabot, Somers, Hudson's Mutineers, Chancellor, and Cook, also the route of tho first African settlers.

What is vividly presented to tho senses makes a correspondingly vivid impression on the mind, and the mind retains well what has been well impressed on it. This seems- to .be the idea of the author of '-'Illustrated History," who has chosen twenty-five outstanding characters in English history, his choice falling on those who have most intlucnced that history through the centuries.- A 'shaft biography of each historical person is given with the more important and interesting facts shown in illustrations throughout the text. Thus such-facts "as they are recorded in print are presented simultaneously to tho young reader in tho form of pictures, making a double appeal to the memory and imagination. Who, for instance, could ever forget that tho Venerable Bede was "skilled in English song" when the fact is told under a picture- of Bede surrounded by his fellow monks, all singing with all their hearts. Among the characters included in the book are Queen.. Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, Dr. Johnson, Nolson, Florence Nightingale, Disraeli, and Cecil Rhodes. Each illustrated biography is preceded by a list of the dates of tlio more important events in tho life of the subject, and;followed by, a bibliography. This vivid and' interesting work should pvovo a useful addition to historical writings, especially those for i youthful readers.