MURRAY’S SHILLING LIBRARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 9

MURRAY’S SHILLING LIBRARY.

“Sinai and Palestine, ia connection with their history.” By A. P, Stanley, D.D. “Self-Help.” By Samuel Smiles. “The Naturalist on the River Amazon/’ By A. W. Bates. .Murray's Suiiling Library. London : John Murray. One of the oldest and most famous oi English publishing houses is that of John Murray. It is pleasant to see that this olu-csfabhsued mm has recognised that this is tlie day of the cheap reprint and tuat tu© sjnead of popular education has made the reading public so immensely laiger than it was iu early and midVicioriau times. Mr Murray’s Shilling Library makes a splendid start with the three books whose titles are given above.

Dean Stanley's noble work on the topography of the Holy Land is recognised as a classic by students of Scriptural history, and its appearance in so v cheap a form will no doubt secure for it a new and much extended popularity. As for Dr Smiles’s famous book, “Self-Help,” a good deal of fun has been poked, from time to time at the tone of certain of the lessons it contained, but the fact remains that it is a work which gives some very good advice to young men and incidentally provides some very interesting biographical details, Mr Bates' book. “A Naturalist, on the River Amazons," is another old favourite which has not been displaced, albeit close upon forty rears have elapsed since the adventurous explorer first gave to the world tho record of his wanderings in the gorgeous tropical forest of South America. The original illustrations are reproduced, and considering the number of times the blocks must have been used it is astonishing how good, in most cases, are the impressions..

Future volumes of Murray's Shilling Library, which, be it noted, is composed of works the copyright in which has not yet expired, will include Blackie’s “Life of David Livingstone,” Gifford's "Deeds of Naval Daring." Airs Adie’s (Julia Cartwright) “Painters of Florence,” and

•'A Lady's Life ,in the Rocky tains." by Mrs Bishop (Isabella L. Bird). Tne books are well printed on good paper, and the cloth binding is strong and neat. - ‘