The Stolen Emperor. By Mrs. Hugh Fraser. (J. Long. 6s.)
—The reader who may not be acquainted with the literary ability of Mrs. Fraser must not suffer himself to be discouraged by a somewhat unpromising beginning in this "Tale of Old Japan." The story is based on one of the strange situations which have occurred from time to time in Japanese politics. The Emperors have had to play the part of the Merovingian Kings of France in the days of their decadence, or, we may say, of the Grand Lama of Thibet nowadays. He had to be a nominis umbra. If it seemed likely that he would become real, he was removed. The actual power was in the hands of the great feudatories, and these naturally were not quite at one about where it should be lodged. There is plenty of opportunity here, and Mrs. Fraser has used it well. The special charm of her story is in her delineation of the Japanese woman. The Empress-mother, Jito ; Nets, her devoted attendant ; and, above all, the self-sacrificing Sadza, are beautiful pictures which no one will easily forget.
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