CURRENT LITERATURE.
• GIFT-BOOKS.
The Land of Pluck. By Mary Mapes Dodge. (T. Fisher Unwin.) —The author of this delightful, beautifully printed and admirably illustrated volume is one of the most popular and capable of Transatlantic writers for children. She was never seen to better advantage than in this book, which consists of two parts, sketches of Holland, and stories and studies of a mis- cellaneous kind. The Dutch portion is in every way admirable ; Holland has, indeed, been very wall done by travellers and artists during recent yours, but Mrs. Dodge proves by her enthusiasm for the country, and the fresh facts she reveals, that it cannot be overdone. She shows how it deserves the name of 'The Land of Pluck" that she has given to it ; she demon- strates, too, how the Dutch, with hard heads and strong hands, have also warm hearts. This is proved by, among other things, their treatment of birds. The second part of the book consists of miscellaneous stories and sketches. All ars, good, though the humour of ono or two, like a good deal of American humour, is rather too subtle. Especially good, in different ways, are "Grandmother," "Bubbles," "Trapper Joe," and "Two May Queens." The illustrations are admirable. In the first part they give character to the life, character, and scenery of Holland. As regards the second part, even Miss Ronner could not have given more life-like illustrations than those which appear in "The Brighton Cats."
Previous page
