The Splendid Blackguard. By Roger Pocock. (John Murray. 6s.)—Mr. Pocock
makes it very difficult for us to enjoy his book. Re is deliberately affected, as a humorist he is often a poseur, sometimes he talks wildly and with evident insincerity, as when he declares that "the temple is pro- faned by all who buy and sell us into wedlock, but most of all by the Respectable, who bind us with chains most grievous to be borne, and, where Christ gave us the one commandment, 'Love,' dare to forbid the banns." And his style is ex- ceedingly difficult to follow, much condensed, yet uncertain of itself, and vague in beginning and end. Nevertheless, when we do succeed in penetrating to his real intention, there is much that is delightful in his work. The doings and adven- tures of the North-West Mounted Police, and of one Josh ds: la Mancha y O'Brien, alias Blackguard, have been wisely connected by the author into one somewhat rambling tale, instead of being isolated into short stories; and, as we grow familiar with the ways of the detachment, we become con- scious that here is a spirit of real romance, a true sense of humour, and, best of all, a masculine vigour which ousts all sentimentality, and lends genuine pathos and delicacy to the end of the book. Only we hope that in future work Mr. Pocock will cast off his affectations, his "list of characters," and the forcing of his humour, to be his interesting and engaging self.
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