Nicky - Nan, Reservist. By " Q." (William Blackwood and Sons. 6s.)—The writer
of this notice had the good fortune to be in a Cornish village at the time when the Naval- Reserve was called out, and was able to see something of the dogged strength and uncomprehending, ungrumbling acquiescence of the fisberfolk. They were none too clear as to their reasons for belonging to the Reserve at all; they were utterly ignorant of the meaning of the despatches gummed to, the post-office door; but they trumped contentedly away, leaving behind them their mackerel-boats high on the beach, their -wives and children all unafraid until the first little list of casualties began to leak through. So the beginning of " Q's" latest novel took us straight back to those wonderful days. He knows well the Cornwall of which he writes, and the actual story of Nicky-Nan is of less interest than the reproduction of the life of the village, of the conversation passed across the street, of the old lady who had heard Lord Kitchener well spoken of. We confess that we were sometimes bored with Nicky-Nan's hidden treasure— spade guineas are so seldom found in cottages. But it is worth while to read the book for the sake of the meeting held at the vicarage in connexion with the S.S.F.A. and foi Mr. Hambly's two sermons, which are certainly finer than those preached from most village pulpits in the autumn of last year.
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