Life of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. By Joseph Knight. (Walter Scott.)—This
is a volume of the series "Great Writers," now appearing under the care of Professor Eric Robertson. We are inclined to think that, considering its subject, it appears too soon. It may be doubted whether Rossetti's work has been so tested by time that it is safe to enrol him among " Great Writers." As yet he has not attained to the largo audience which, one cannot but think, is one of the " notes " of greatness. And then there is the consideration of his recent date. It is difficult to treat so remarkable a personality, so closely connected as it was with many who are still alive, quite thoroughly and candidly. We have no complaint, indeed, to make of Mr. Knight's way of handling his subject. He manages it with tact and good feeling. Still, we feel that there is aometbing to be said which has not been said, and which ought to be said if all the ques- tions, literary and ethical, which have to do with llossetti's life and work, have to be fully considered. We find ourselves generally in agree- ment with Mr. Knight's judgment, though we cannot but think that there was more justification for the attack made in "The Fleshly School of Poetry" than he is willing to allow. Of the mode of making the attack we say nothing. Bat there is some significance in the fact that one of the incriminated poems disappears from the collection of Rossetti's verse. With the poet's artistic work, Mr. Knight modestly professes himself unable to deal. Nevertheleas, he gives what most readers will find an instructive and generally satisfactory account of it.
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