Fairy-Tales of the Countess D'Aulnoy. Translated by J. R. Planch4.
(Routledge.)—Doubtless many of the children of to- day—certainly many of the children of yesterday—are familiar with some of the masterpieces among the fairy-tales of the Countess D'Aulnoy, such as "The Beneficent Frog," and " The Good Little Mouse." No doubt also, in time, they will be voted "slow," and the moralities which they teach will be con- sidered tedious, if not old-fashioned. But if anything is calcu- lated to preserve them for the delectation of future generations of young—and still more, perhaps, of old—English readers, it is this beautifully printed and richly illustrated translation of them from the pen of Mr. J. R. Planche. Mr. Planche claims, and with, good reason, that here we have for the first time a presentation of these fairy-tales to the English reader in their integrity,—and that although they are two hundred years old. He gives us, moreover, the gold of the Countess D'Aulnoy without—as cannot be said of all other so-called versions—any admixture of foreign dross. It is quite unnecessary, at this time of day, to eulogise these marvel- lous stories, which, besides, are historically valuable as reflecting the manners and customs of the Courts of Versailles and Madrid at the close of the seventeenth century. It is not, of course, every ordinary nursery child that will take at once to, say, "The Blue Bird " or " Finette Cendron ; " but for exceptionally intelli- gent children who are getting too old for the commonplace fairy- story, it would be difficult to conceive a better or more handsome presentation-book than this.
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