11 OCTOBER 1890, Page 44

Leah of Jerusalem. By Edward Payson Berry. (Hodder and Stoughton.).—This"

Story of the Time of Paul" is a very am- bitious attempt. The writer has prepared himself for it by a careful study of the New Testament, and by diligent reading of cognate literature. Now and then he seems to trip. Of course we have the old mistranslation of "down go the thumbs" for premere pollicem, when the victims are doomed in the amphitheatre; and Verginius Rufus is mis-spelt (p. 365) " Virginius Rutus," but this doubtless is a vagary of the printer. On the whole, the surroundings of the subject are accurately given. But the tale fails to interest us. Mr. Berry has not the power by which such a writer as Ebers calls the past to life.