MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 87 



Bosworth Field ; an Historical Tale. By the Author of " Arthur 

 of Brittany." 3 vols. Cochrane and Co., London. 



It is a very remarkable fact, that Sir Walter Scott appears to have for 

 the present utterly broken up Historical Tale writing. Whether it is 

 that we come to the perusal of works of this nature with a prejudice 

 resulting from a familiar acquaintance with Scott's works, we do not 

 know ; but certain it is, that we rise from their perusal little satisfied. 



Richard the Third is supposed to have had a son, who was introduced 

 into his tent on the night before the battle of Bosworth, and then for the 

 first time made acquainted with his parentage. The evidence of this 

 youth's existence is by no means satisfactory ; but upon this report the 

 Author of " Arthur of Brittany" has founded his plot. The ground was 

 dangerous; it has been hallowed by Shakspeare, and most of the prin- 

 cipal characters in the Tale have been already immortalised by the great 

 poet of human nature. There are also some strange historical inac- 

 curacies : for this the writer may perhaps plead the example of Scott. 

 The objection even in Sir Walter was a grave one, but it was in a great 

 measure overlooked in the charm of his racy narrative ; they were not 

 looked for till the story had been read. In the present instance, however, 

 they start up in one's path, and serve as stumbling-blocks. 



One of the most curious traits about " Bosworth Field" is that the 

 characters and the scenes are too palpably made for each other ; the 

 whole is too obviously artificial. Thus Alwyde, the hero, in the course 

 of a journey, falls in with a thunder-storm : this thunder-storm drives 

 him into a half- ruinous castle, in which he finds a man dying; in an 

 upper room he discovers a maniacal woman, and after this he leaves the 

 neighbourhood ; and some time afterwards he comes upon a party of 

 rustics swimming a witch, and, in the end, he discovers that this unhappy 

 creature was his own mother. 



The redeeming points about the work are many. It is vigorously 

 written : occasionally characters and incidents are dashed off boldly and 

 with great perspicuity ; and the portraitures of the widowed Elizabeth, 

 her daughter, the future queen of Richmond, and the Lady Anne, are 

 exceedingly well drawn. The underplot, in which this last-named lady 

 and Edward Stanley are the hero and heroine, is -a touching story, 

 having' in it much truth and much nature. 



On the whole, 4 ' Bosworth Field " is a very readable performance, 

 and superior to the common run of Novels. The Author might un- 

 doubtedly have made more of his materials, as his invention is abundantly 

 prolific. 



A Voice from the Dormitory. Being a Collection of Sacred Poems, 

 chiefly selected from Old Authors. Smith, Elder and Co., 

 London. 



A collection of poems showing a fine discriminative taste, and one 

 which forms a very acceptable addition to our available sacred literature. 



The Poetical Works of SAMUEL ROGERS, Esq. Part IV. 

 Edward Moxon, London. 



It is impossible to imagine any thing more splendid than this work. 

 The illustrations, which are profusely scattered over its pages, are some of 

 the most delicious things we have ever seen. 



