BOOKS RECEIVED

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 19

BOOKS RECEIVED

WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS

Part three of "Everyday Zoc in Scbtland/H.by i,;^. Grant (George Allen and Unwin, Ltd.), covers the period from 1707 until the end of .the nine-toentlP-ccirtury. : \ ') ' .-.- ~

Correct pronunciation can bo learned. without tears from "Practical 'Training in Pronunciation, "by- Gerard N. Trenite (George Allea and Unwin, LttL):.. This should ,Le v a; .valuable handbook for teachers.*-';''• ■:--t-'• ■'•■ '■-- ■

■- "A Ceyloiv .Commentary " by P. E. Sinythe (Willisuni aiid Norgatc, Ltd.), is a personal and incisive account of Ceylon' written by a young man who Bpent twenty: months in the Ceylon Civil Service. The criticism, is trenchant and direct and the picture drawn of native and-European life, if impressionist, is nono tlio less illuminating.

■ Followers of the.gentle art practised by Isaac Walton will be interested in "Chalk Streams and Water Meadows" (John Murray). The 'author, Dr. E. A. Barton, i« as -well known as a fisherman as "he is as a writer and photographer, and m this little book pen and camera combine with advantage.

"Genius and Criminal" (John Murray) as flailed by the author, Henry T. .-P. llho-les, a study in rebellion; His thesis is that a kinship exists botween the genius and criminal in that Loth are in rebellion against their environment. Examples are given from the lives of certain totpriqus crimlEais and typical men of genius!

In "Tho Dissolution of an Empire," Menel Buchauan (Mrs. Knowles) alleges that,, the action :of the British Government in refusing sanctuary to the Imperial Itussian family was entirely responsible for the brutal tragedy at; Ekaterinberg. She. ; quotes. from' official documsuts in, order to reveal the extraordicaiy way in which Russian ■affairs were, viewed by tha British Government, botli before, aud during the Eevolution. Mies.Buchanan'claims ■to--to able .to.speak with very.definite knowledgei as she was with her father, the late Right Hoh.----.Sir- George Buchanan, during the whole • of the tragic fiasco, and was an eye-witness of pitched battles between the Loyalists and, the Beds. Her knowledge of Eussian society before the war', is widely' drawn upon to give pictures of some of. the leaders, of society.' which-are' very amusingly arid humanly told: John Murray is the publisher.

The revolt of the Netherlands led to tho emergence of a North-Netherland-ish Stat'c. Most historians, including Motley, accept this' resulfc-^-that ib to say, tho poUtical disruption of the Dutch-speaking race, which pergistsuntil'this- Say-^-as a foregone conclusion. Pr-ofessor Geyl, in "The Eevolt of the Netherlands, 1555-1609" (Willianis and UTorgate'j Ltd.)', not" only gives'a clear and comprehensive account of a f amou3 episode of European history, but' moro than any previous writer he is concerned to eScpMn why the revolt succeeded in'the North and failed in the South. In doing so he disposes oil familiar misapp'rehenßions such as those concerniii" the aims of Williani the Silent, and tho part .played by Protestaptisiii. There are five excellent maps lit this '■ troa tise. the author of which is ProfessoV of Dutch History and Institutions at the University of 'London: ' : ' ••■■.'•

The story of Flora.; MaeDonald ranks as one of the world's greatest romances. Inseparably linked, with the ill-starred venture of tho Stuarts, her devotion- to Prince Charlie and his cause has become «&?£& .|No fifth edition of Alexander MacGregor's /'Xjfe of Flora MaeDonajd" (Maekay) liafcbfeen called for. The new edition has been fully revised: several corrections have been made in the text, and a full and comprehensive index added. The .great; value of the. work lies in tho fact that; it is based on first-hand' information' gained by the' author from Flora's daughter, Anne; .who married Major-General Alexander Macleod, and who died at Stein in Skye in ' 1834. There has also been appended WTilliajn Jolly's study of the" heroine, a book long' out'of print: It makes a valuable complement and amplification to: the .biography... . ■; '