C. S. PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19292, 3 April 1926, Page 7 (Supplement)

C. S. PARNELL.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS. There is much that is refreshing and interesting though little that can he fairly described as new in " Parnell: the Last Five Years" just written by Sir Alfred Robbins and published by Thornton Butterworth. The story is confined to the last five years of life, because in so limiting the scope of his work, the author is able to deal solely with facts and incidents which came directly under his own observation. Sir Alfred Robbins is one of the best known of the older generation of English journalists He was engaged as a newspaper representative in the lobby of tho House of Commons during tho tragic period of Parnell's life from the publication of the Pigott letters, through the O'Shea divorce case to the ultimate political eclipse of tho Irish leader and his subsequent death. It is almost wholly of these incidents that Sir Alfred Robbins writes. ITe knew Parnell intimately arid his judgment where it is not _ strictly judicial is tinged with admiration and sympathy. The book will revive many memories, but will arouse no political passions. It should meet a cordial welcome. There are many interesting sidelights in the book. One of them may bo quoted. It was in 1885. Sir Alfred Robbins notes, that Mr. Chamberlain said: " I believe that tho true policy for everyone except Mr. Gladstone is ' wait and sec.'" Sir Alfred adds: "To his lasting political injury, Asquith used the phrase thirty years after, and all thought it, his own."