5 JANUARY 1901, Page 27

ScnooL-Boons.-Sallust's Catiline. Edited by the Rev. W. A. Stone. (Blackie

and Son. ls. 6d.)-One of the " Illustrated Latin Series." There is a useful essay in the prolegomena on Ballast's style and diction, and another on the political aspect of the Catiline movement, in which the views of Mommsen have been assimilated. There must have been something more than schemes of robbery and murder in the Catilinarian programme when its author missed the Consulship by only a few votes. In the notes Mr. Stone does not fail to point out what the reader of Sallust should avoid. The illustrations add no little value to the book. Among them is a reproduction of a very fine fresco of " Cicero addressing the Senate." The boy who studies that must be helped in realising the story.-To the same series belongs Ofesar's Gallic War, Book I., edited by John Brown, B. A. (Is. 6d.) - In " Blackwood's Classical Texts " (W. Blackwood and Sons) we have another series which makes good use of illustration to explain and give reality to classical writings. To this belongs Homer's Odyssey, VI., edited by E. E. Sikes, M.A. (is. 6d.) To the usual prolegomena and notes Mr. Sikes adds an interesting essay on the " Folk-lore of Homer," showing how folk-tales known in many forms are to be found in the Odyssey. As to the author. ship, we cannot but think that Mr. Sikes goes too far when be assumes as generally conceded the diversity of writers. He might have dismissed more definitely the thesis of Wolf, now absolutely untenable, that the Homeric poems were not written down before the middle of the sixth century B.C. It had long been discredited, and the discoveries in Crete have given it a coup de grace.-In " Blackie's Continental Geography Readers " (Blackie and Son, ls.) we have Asia and Africa ; and in the " Twentieth Century Edition " The Sovereign Baader, by G. A. Henty (same publishers, ls. 6c1.)