The Intermediate Text-Book of English Literature. Vol. II. By W.
H. Low, M.A. (Clive.)—This is one of the text-books of the "University Correspondence College Tutorial Series," and em- braces the period from the accession of Elizabeth to the Restora- tion. Correctness and a cautious critical judgment mark the volume ; but it is necessary to observe that the student must not estimate the quality of an author by the space he occupies in these pages. Henry Vaughan, for example, is dismissed in a. note with the remark that one or two of his poems "display consider- able gifts ; " ton lines are given to Marvell, and eight to Daniel whose finest poem is not even mentioned by name ; Drayton is not much more liberally treated ; and these four poets united receive less attention than is given to Habingtou. But when, as is in- evitable in so small a book, the most important authors are slightly treated, it is perhaps unreasonable to expect that to minor ones their exact mood of praise shall be awarded. To write in the most concise manner of such a period in two hundred pages is a task of no slight difficulty, and Mr. Low has achieved it creditably. The value of the book, and of all works of the class, depends on a student's purpose in using them. If they be read for the sake of "cramming," and to gain whatever knowledge can be gleaned with the least possible amount of labour, such text- books can do nothing but harm. On the other hand, if used as guides to show the most striking features of the road the student proposes to explore, they may prove of real service.
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