THE DICKENS COUNTRY.
The Dickens Country. By F. G. Kitten. (A. and C. Black. 6s.)— Mr. Kitten had scarcely completed his book for publication before his death (September 10th, 1904). Happily there is no occasion for unfavourable criticism, or even for the suggestion of improve- ment. He had thoroughly mastered the subject, and wrote out of a well-filled mind. And he was a thoroughgoing admirer of Dickens. He knew " Little Dorrit " as well as he knew "Pickwick" or "Martin Chuzzlewit." Some of us—and the writer of this notice must own that he is one of the number— while they admire the earlier works, find themselves wearied by the mannerisms of the later. Mr. Kitton, however, knew his author from Alpha to Omega, and spared no pains in illustrating him, and identifying the scenes which he portrays. One or two little points occur to us as we write. Sam Weller's orders from the " Governor " were far more peremptory in the matter of Mr. Winkle's flight than to "follow and keep him in sight " ; at least as Sam understood them, witness his self-reproach at not having knocked him down. "The Governor distinctly said as it had to be done." Tho commentators who identify the " little Wiltshire village" where Mrs. Lupin kept the Blue Dragon with Amesbury might have been peremptorily dismissed by Mr. Kitton. Ames- bury is a little market town with eleven hundred inhabitants.
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