Facts about France. By E. Saillens. (T. Fisher Unwin. 8s.
6d. net.)—One does not expect a condensed encyclopaedia to be both readable and witty, but this ingenious little compendium of informs. lion about France is an exception to the rule. M. Sallow, who has acted as an interpreter to the British Army, seems to know the kind of facts which British readers want, and presents them in a clear• and attractive way, with many of those pictorial diagrams, maps, and plans in which the makers of popular French manuals excel. As an example of M. Saillens' method we may take " Maritime," under which will be found a short account of the French Navy, notes on
the chief ports, and statistics of shipping. Next come a goad summary of the battle of the Marne and the story of the " Mar- seillaise." There are articles on many of the departments, on the climate, the Colonies, on " drinks," on Napoleon, the nobility, and many other topics, and to each article the author appends a list of authorities. It is a most useful and entertaining little book.
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