1884.] 



HI-: VIEWS OF books. 



220 



The Mcrrij Adrenturcs of Rohin Hood of Great Reiiouui, in NotfliKj' 

 hamshire. Written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. London. 

 Sold by Sampson Low, ]\Iarston, Searle, and Ilivington, 1883. 

 Tins quaintly illustrated but withal handsome volume ought to find, 

 as it doubtless will, a large public anxious to secure an old favourite 

 in a new dress. Most of the illustrations — and there are a large 

 number — are full-page, but there are a number of capital head-pieces 

 drawn in the same quaint style as the larger woodcuts. 



No good literary artist who attempts to Ijuild up the structure 

 called ' fiction,' leaves out the elements of humour which should be in 

 every story : and it is essential to the success of all work which por- 

 trays life, that the comic as well as the serious side of the subject 

 should be presented to the reader. Apart from the absorbing interest 

 of the records of the famous Robin Hood's adventures, they are in- 

 tensely amusing ; and the illustrations in the goodly tome under 

 review have at times a ' Punch and Judy ' character quite in keeping 

 with the fun of the narrative. 



"VVe need only add that the text is beautifully printed, the paper of 

 especially good quality, and the whole volume one to be cordially 

 recommended. 



Ad rciitures of Rohinso/i Crusoe. By Daniel Defoe. With twenty 



coloured illustrations. London : T. Fisher Unwin. 

 Here is another handsome presentation book — we had almost said a 

 ' companion volume ' to the one just noticed. ])Ut it differs in this, 

 that, though an old favourite, its pictorial embellishments are coloured. 



