23 OCTOBER 1909, Page 23

Giannella. By Mrs. Hugh. Fraser. (Methuen and Co. 6s.)— This

is a very charming story of Rome in the early days of Pius IX., and it is, some consolation for those readers of fiction who felt that, through the death of Mr. Marion Crawford, they would be deprived of many delightful pictures of Rome and the Romans to find that her brother's mantle has descended upon Mrs. Hugh Fraser. The portraits of the Italian man of science and of the suave Cardinal are very entertaining, if perhaps a little conventional, but the truly delightful person is Mariuccia, the old servant, who brings up the heroine, Giannella. There is much sunahine and a delightful atmosphere about the book, and though it has no claim to great subtlety of motive or intricacy of plot, it is thoroughly pleasant and agreeable reading.