The Story of St. James's Palace, by Bruce Graeme (Hutchinson,
24s.), is designed to tell Londoners rind others more about one of the most famous of London buildings. It is therefore written in a popular style, and quotations are chosen for their oddity rather than for their importance. The history of a palace must always consist largely of back- stair and bedchamber intrigues on the one hand, and of contests for possession on the other. Nevertheless the work has been well done, and, but for an occasional facetious remark, the account is sufficiently objective to be interesting. Londoners who read it will know more of their city and, above all, Mr. Graeme is to be congratulated on having written it without undue use of the word " romance." His effects arc not strained, and he has the important quality of being readable.
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