The Boudoir Shakespeare : Cymbeline and the Merchant of Venice,
(Sampson Low end Co.)—The primary object of this series is to supply a handy book, with clear type for reading aloud. As it is an expos,- gated edition, it will be useful to put into the hands of young people, who may enjoy all the beauties of these masterpieces without finding one offensive expression. Mr. Cundell has done his work as editor well, and in no prudish spirit, and readers will appreciate these conveniently- sized, well and clearly-printed volumes.—The Tempest. Edited by J. Surtees Phillpotts. (Rivingtons.) This at once challenges comparison with the edition of Mr. Aldis Wright. The latter leaves very little room for improvement in the department of philology and textual criticism, but there is no indication of any attempt to help the forma- tion of a correct judgment on the teathetic side, and no guide to any analysis of the characters. This is as much needed by young students as is the philological portion, and it is this deficiency that Mr. Phillpotta supplies in the present volume. The introduction represents the latest state of Shakespearean criticism, discusses the question of the date of the play, deals with the characters, and draws a striking contrast between the treatment of a kindred subject by Homer and Shake- speare. The notes are just what is needed for a student, full without being diffuse, having well-chosen hints to help the better appreciation of the play, and without parallel passages to repletion. It is a most useful edition.
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