Devils. By J. Charles Wall. (Methuen and Co. 4s. 6d.
net.) —We must own to a certain feeling of distaste for a book of this kind. The subject is, of course, mainly treated from the ludicrous point of view. Not a little historical and archaeological informa- tion is given us concerning it; and it is possible to conceive a book in which the matter should be treated in a severely scientific spirit. From such a book all semblance of the jocose would be banished. But it would be a difficult one to write. The mediaeval treatment of the subject when it came into the hands of the artist was largely ludicrous. The theologian might be all gravity, but the sculptor who represented the evil spirit in an illuminated letter or on a gargoyle could not help making fun out of it. With this reservation, we have nothing but praise for Mr. Wall's book. The illustrations, which have evidently been sought for far and wide, are excellent of their kind.
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