Nansen, Fridtjof.Norway and the union with Sweden. 70c. Macmillan.
A resumé given temperately and concisely from the Norwegian point of view of the events leading up to the present crisis. These events cover about a hundred years; the real strife beginning when in 1895 a change in the Swedish constitution practically took the administration of foreign affairs out of the hand of the king and placed them under the power of parliament.
“A sound little book on the Norwegian side of the dispute, by the Norwegian who is most competent to write upon it.”
*“Thus the book is one to be read before attacking Otté’s larger and more exhaustive work.”
“Nansen’s book, admirable in restraint, will certainly do nothing to embitter feeling in either country.”
“Dr. Nansen states the Norwegian case in a lucid and forcible way.”
Nares, Robert.Glossary of words, phrases, names, and allusions in the works of English authors, particularly Shakespeare and his contemporaries; ed. by J. O. Halliwell and Thomas Wright.*$3. Dutton.
This work was originally published in 1822, and the present edition follows the original text, but includes many new words, phrases, and expressions which have been found since the publication of the first edition or were overlooked by the author.
Nason, Frank Lewis.Vision of Elijah Berl.†$1.50. Little.
This story of California is the story of Elijah Berl, a dreamer and fanatic, who undertook the great work of making a barren wilderness “blossom as the rose,” and, blinded by the light of his glowing vision, sought base methods to attain his noble end. His partner who applies the “moral straight-edge,” the girl who helps, and the weak wife who hinders are strongly drawn. The company’s affairs, the orange industry, the building of the irrigation dam, and the feverish land boom just before its collapse give the typical atmosphere of the early West.
Reviewed by Frederic Taber Cooper.
“Mr. Nason has drawn the character of Elijah with excellent precision and clearness.”
“The author evidently knows conditions in California, and is wide awake in his study of human character.”
National documents: state papers so arranged as to illustrate the growth of our country from 1606 to the present day.*72c; lea.*92c; pa.*42c. Bell, H. W.
“A valuable little volume containing important state papers, from the charter of Virginia, given in 1606 to the Panama ship canal treaty of 1904.”—Arena.
Reviewed by Amy C. Rich.
Naylor, E. W.Elizabethan virginal book.*$2. Dutton.
“In his ‘critical essay’ on the contents of the Virginal book in the Fitzwilliam museum at Cambridge, ... [the author] gives a careful study of nearly 300 pieces of the Tudor period which are almost entirely unknown.” (N. Y. Times.) These pieces of Elizabethan music include 130 dances, 17 organ pieces, 46 arrangements of forty different songs, and certain madrigals, and fantasias, etc.
“But the volume as a whole is interesting and instructive; moreover, it is the first book on the subject, and therefore welcome. It contains many musical illustrations, and there is a capital index.”
*“It is a careful and scholarly work.” W. J. Henderson.
“It is a valuable work of reference, for it embodies all that can be required by one who is desirous of gaining a clear idea of the music of this interesting period.”
“It must be admitted that he makes out a good case for his thesis.”
“It certainly is a stimulating and graphic method of studying musical history that he has embodied in the book.” Richard Aldrich.
Needler, George Henry,tr. See Nibelungenlied.
Neidig, William Jonathan.First wardens.**$1. Macmillan.
Thirty-seven poems upon such themes as Alvah and Azubah, The adoration of the Magi, Wine of laurel, andLex mundi. There is also a series of sonnets called A woman’s ring.
“Much of Mr. Neidig’s verse, for all its originality and unquestionably poetic diction, makes too hard reading to fulfill the proper function of poetry.” Wm. M. Payne.
*Nesbit, Wilbur Dick.Alphabet of history.**75c. Elder.
“A thin little book done in brown tones and with a flexible cover.... It is printed in old art style and bound in Rhinos boards.... Taking history alphabetically, the book goes from Alexander to Zenobia, and includes such prominent people as Lucullus, Raleigh, William Tell, and James Watt.... The illustrations show without overmuch seriousness the eminent individuals whose life stories are told.”—N. Y. Times.
*“Twenty-six historical personages ... are portrayed with accuracy, completeness, and much cleverness.”
Neville, James J.Letters of a self-made president. $1. Ogilvie.
The apparent object of these letters is to ridicule Roosevelt, his friends, and his official and unofficial acts. Altho names are transposed and facts perverted, there is no real attempt to disguise the identity of the executive who entertains Booker at dinner for the sake of the negro vote, and assembles the navy at Clam bay for the edification of a few visiting friends.
“Now and then the malice has a spice of wit, but generally speaking the letters of a self-made president are rather heavy.”
Nevinson, Henry W.Books and personalities.*$1.50. Lane.
“The reviews and criticisms of which this book is composed deal with a varied company of literary personalities. The net is spread very wide. Great and small—Mr. Belloc and Browning, Goethe and Aubrey Beardsley, Æschylus and Mr. Yeats, Dolling and De Wet, Carlyle, Heine, and Mr. Le Gallienne, and many others—are gathered in. And in dealing with them all Mr. Nevinson either has his point of view, or manages to reflect, brightly enough, the general tendency of educated opinion.”—Ath.
“Readable and stimulating these short studies undoubtedly are.”
Reviewed by H. W. Boynton.
“Mr. Nevinson has a charming and lucid style that cannot but give interest to his restrained thoughts.”
“He writes in a brisk, self-confident, effective way, with no lack of plausible generalizations (not based on painfully exhaustive collection of particulars) and a ready supply of apt illustrations. As short essays in criticism of the lighter sort, these chapters, despite a slight tendency to the dogmatic in their tone are excellent reading.”
“We have read them all with interest—seldom, indeed, have met with a book of the kind which we were so unwilling to lay down—and many with much pleasure.”
New, Edmund H.Evesham.*50c. Dutton.
“Americans rarely see Evesham and the beautiful, broad vale in which it lies, although they are near it when they make, as all good Americans do, their Shakespeare pilgrimage. This little book, one of the ‘Temple topographies,’ is, with its line drawings and pleasant narrative, an introduction and an incentive to visit a charming countryside.”—Outlook.
“In this volume thorough justice is done to the buildings of a charming little Worcestershire town.”
Newberry, Percy Edward, and Garstang, John.Short history of ancient Egypt.**$1.20. Estes.
A small volume which gives a comprehensive sketch of the Egyptian monarchy from its founding to its disintegration, three thousand years later. The story is told in the light of the many important discoveries which have been made within the last decade. It is a book that will arouse the student’s interest in the subject and lead to the study of larger works.
“There is a painful lack of proper proportion. The presentation in the little book of the new results from the archaic age deserves consideration as a serious contribution. The American edition has some serious misprints.”
“They have written with exactness and clearness, and their product should offer the reader an attractive synopsis of the latest discoveries.”
Newell, William Wells.Words for music: symphonic series.*$3. Small.
A little volume of brief lyrics of nature and life.
“The most noticeable fault of the pieces is found in the frequent omission of articles and other small words necessary to the construction.” Wm. M. Payne.
“In ‘Words for music,’ ... a mild and rather wordy mysticism sometimes bears poetic fruit in verse of a pleasing, gossamer-like tenuity.”
Newman, Ernest.Musical studies: essays.*$1.50. Lane.
Mr. Newman’s fearless attitude toward music and composers results in an iconoclastic treatment of some of the old masters and a proportionately exalted consideration of others of more modern schools. In the latter class is Strauss to whom “Mr. Newman attributes ... pretty nearly everything except the creation of the world.... The essay on programme music is unquestionably the most lucid, original, and convincing discussion of that question ever printed.” (Nation.)
“Our author is a clever and thoughtful writer, and even those who differ from him will respect his frankly expressed opinions.”
*“His scholarship is good and his point of view established favorably for perspective. He writes frankly of old and new masters, and his comments are stimulating to the mind of the reader.” W. J. Henderson.
“Mr. Newman takes his work with vast seriousness and digs very deep. The subjects warrant such treatment, but as a result the reader must look for matter rather than manner.”
“Mr. Newman also ventures to fly in the face of public opinion with a few pages of very depreciative remarks on Gounod’s ‘Faust.’ Here he is decidedly in error. In the other essays of this volume we find our author much more sane and satisfactory, and less self-contradictory.”
Newman, Ernest.Wagner. (Music of the masters ser.) $1. Brentano’s.
The average lover of music will find Wagner made comprehensible in Mr. Newman’s monograph; “not the whole Wagner,” but the “essential Wagner” as a musician and a dramatist is the author’s province. Following a chapter on Wagner’s development, each of his operas is studied in turn, and the really essential motives are given. A chronological table and bibliography are included.
“A refreshing independence of judgment.”
“It is stimulating and refreshing to come upon so strong and original and drastic a piece of criticism as he has delivered in this little book.” Richard Aldrich.
“Mr. Newman always has something to say that is worth saying, and he says it without indirection, uninfluenced by partisanship.” Richard Aldrich.
Newman, Eugene William. (Savoyard, pseud.).Essays on men, things, and events, historical, personal, political. $2. Neale.
The sub-title includes the following list of men, who with associated events, “historical, personal, political,” are considered in this volume: Roscoe Conklin, Thaddeus Stevens, Matthew H. Carpenter, Andrew Johnson, John J. Ingalls, Seargent S. Prentiss, Oliver P. Morton, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, Samuel J. Tilden. The family of Field, Marcus A. Hanna, Thomas B. Reed, Benjamin H. Hill, George F. Hoar, Frank Wolford, Stephen A. Douglass and Thomas C. Platt.
“The form on the other hand is very old-fashioned, with much embroidery of classical and Biblical allusion and a generous supply of adjectives of heroic size. Altogether people interested in men and politics, whatever their individual bias, can hardly fail to derive entertainment from Mr. Newman’s essays.”
Nibelungenlied; tr. into rhymed English verse in the meter of the original by G. H. Needler.*$1.75. Holt.
The first metrical translation of this great epic into the English language will appeal to students and readers alike. The historical background of the work has been supplied in a full two-part introduction: the first of which treats of the Nibelungen saga, its history, development and forms; and the second, of the Nibelungenlied, and the various editions thru which it has passed.
“Mr. Needler does not show a very keen sense of rhythm nor a great command of language. His translation lacks case, and indulges in uncomfortable inversions.”
“The book is an interesting work of reference, the value of which is enhanced by a scholarly introduction.”
“What distinguishes this translation of the great German epic from all previous attempts is, in the first place, the faithful and happy reproduction of its metrical form. Professor Needler has added a succinct but adequate introduction ... altogether the best summary of the whole subject to be found in English.”
“The author of this book says that his apology for presenting it is that none of the preceding translations reproduces the metrical form of the original. His book certainly justifies itself, and stands in no need of any apology. The scholarly introduction deserves unqualified praise, and is, indeed, quite a model of what such a work ought to be. At first sight the versification is not attractive, but the liking for it will be found to grow with increasing familiarity.”
“A very satisfactory piece of work.”
Nicholl, Edith M. (Mrs. Bowyer).Human touch: a tale of the great Southwest.†$1.50. Lothrop.
This strenuous story tells of cattle feuds, train robberies, and kidnappers, and of David Kingdon unhappily married to a woman who leaves him and spends her life in travel. While she is on the continent David meets Sylvia and “the human touch” draws them together. The wife is reported lost at sea, Sylvia and David marry and live happily on the great cattle ranch until the first wife reappears. Heartbreaking scenes follow, the wife is selfish, but Sylvia and David are brave and at last are reunited thru the medium of the divorce court.
“In fact, it is a story of unusual excitement, and will hold the reader enthralled just so far as his taste may run in this kind of shotgun literature.”
Nicholson, Joseph Shield.History of the English corn laws. $1. Scribner.
A volume which “emphasizes particularly the connection of the corn laws with British social legislation in general, and warns against the danger of appealing to historical precedents without taking into account all the circumstances of the case.... He makes it clear that, though the corn laws did not produce constant high prices, the fluctuations in price which they did produce were an evil both to the farmer and to the consumer.”—Nation.
“This volume, though avowedly prepared to meet the present discontents, is entirely free from partisanship.”
“The book is a useful treatment, in popular form, of a subject always of historical interest, and now closely connected with a topic of the day.”
*Nicholson, Meredith.House of a thousand candles.†$1.50. Bobbs.
The story of a young man whose grandfather has willed him the house of a thousand candles, which includes an Indiana estate, upon the condition that he live in the house a year, otherwise the estate goes to Marian. There is a villain, and there are secret passages, and other mysterious things, there is shooting and slugging, until the reader is prepared for anything, and cheerfully accepts the fact that Olivia, whom the heir loves, is really Marian, and is quite prepared at the end to greet the grandfather, who, it appears, is not dead after all.
*“A story bristling with adventure.”
*“The story is told with spirit and the people in it are alive—in one case, even though dead.”
*Nicoll, Rev. William Robertson (Claudius Clear, pseud.)Garden of nuts; mystical expositions with an essay on Christian mysticism. $1.25. Armstrong.
“A brief series of articles dealing in detail with some texts in the Old Testament. The method of Dr. Nicoll’s interpretation is to allow Scripture to be the commentary on Scripture. Without deprecating modern criticism, he claims that his exposition moves in a region which criticism does not touch: ‘The great passages in the Word of God are timeless.’”—Ath.
*“These pages should commend themselves to many who have been struck by the sterility of much of the historical handling of the Bible which is now in vogue.”
Niemann, August.The conquest of England; tr. by J. H. Freese. $1.50. Putnam.
A translation of “Der weltkrieg-deutsch traume,” which is graphically based upon the supposition of war between Germany and England. “For the dreams of the German, in the view of this author, are of overthrowing the English power, and of an imperial army taking triumphant possession of London.... The story, considered as a historical romance, is of a type familiar enough.... Throughout it is taken for granted that England is the arch-enemy of civilization, that its foreign policy is a complex network of rapacity and hypocrisy, and that it is deaf to the voice of the higher idealism.” (Dial).“Is related in a workmanlike manner. It is a fairly good story, and is curiously interesting from the way in which it represents, upon every possible occasion, the point of view of the German anglophobe.” W. M. Payne.
Nitobe, Inazo.Bushido: the soul of Japan.*$1.25. Putnam.
Nine editions of this book have appeared in Japan. Bushido is the Japanese feudal equivalent for chivalry, and signifies “the code of moral principles which the knights were required or instructed to observe.” “It embodies the maxims of educational training brought to bear on the Samurai, or warrior class of Japan, the class that throughout the feudal age, which ended only fifty years ago, set the standard to the whole people in manners, ideals of character, and mental and moral codes of obligation.”
“Is a misleading piece of special pleading. He makes out his case by partial statement and wholesale suppression.”
“Professor Nitobe’s work is not exhaustive. It is the only work, however, on the subject given in a language of the West.” Adachi Kinnosuke.
“A delightfully written exposition of Japanese philosophic and social thought.”
Noble, Edward.Edge of circumstance.†$1.50. Dodd.
“A sea story in which an English captain and a Scottish engineer contend against every ill-hap that could befall a cranky, theoretically-built steamship, owned by men who hypocritically profess to make her a co-operative enterprise embodying every new patent and labor-saving device, while they really mean to save money at the expense of the crew’s comfort and safety.”—Outlook.
“‘The edge of circumstance’ is a striking book, one to be read. Mr. Noble attracts immediate attention yet does not shout; he gives us exciting situations, yet leaves something to the imagination. Mr. Noble is too much of an artist to overload his picture.”
*“In ‘The edge of circumstance’ Mr. Noble has created a book with the qualities of a masterpiece. The portrait of the derelict alone will go down as a wonder of sincere portrayal. The poetry of the things is here plain, founded on a knowledge sharper than fancy.”
“It is a rarely good—even a great—book in some respects, and it seems destined to take high rank in the sea literature of its class.”
“The author’s method is much like that of Joseph Conrad, but we miss Conrad’s glow of imagination.”
*“A sea-story quite exceptional in vivid strength and well worth perusing.”
“It is impossible to render full justice to Mr. Edward Noble’s striking story in this column.”
Noble, Esther Gideon.Macbeth, a warning against superstition. $1. Badger, R: G.
Dwelling upon the strong negative lesson conveyed thruout the tragedy of Macbeth, viz., the warning against superstition, Macbeth himself is viewed in the light of one steeped in superstition, and the Weird sisters, whose material existence is denied, as doing no more “than ‘harp’ his fear aright.” “Shakespeare made Macbeth distinctly a man of thought, calculation, and caution. It is the abuse, the misdirection of this great power for thought which makes the tragedy,” so maintains the author of this monograph.
Noble, Rev. Franklin.(comp.) Thoughts for the occasion: fraternal and benevolent; reference manual of historical data and facts; helpful in suggesting themes and in outlining addresses for the observance of timely or special occasions of the various orders. $2. Treat.
The book is divided into four parts which cover—Social and benevolent brotherhoods, Beneficiary and fraternal orders, Religious fraternities, and various orders and societies, and includes nearly all the fraternal organizations in America.
Noldin, Hieronymus.Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, intended especially for priests and candidates for priesthood; trans. from the Germ. by Rev. W. H. Kent.*$1.25. Benziger.
“A history of the cultus and observations upon its theological and ascetical importance.”—Cath. World.
“The historical sketch is brief but valuable. We think, however, that this curious evasion of the twelfth promise question will be the sole objection which devout clients of the League will make to this book.”
*Nordau, Max. Simon (Südfeld).Dwarf’s spectacles and other fairy tales, tr. from the German by Mary J. Safford.†$1.50. Macmillan.
“The stories were told to Maxa, Mr. Nordau’s little daughter, from her fourth to her seventh birthday, and are translated for the benefit of other little ladies by Mary J. Safford. There are twenty stories in all, and they are about everything from beetles to fairies and from rosebushes to white mice. For instance ... there is a tragic account of a last year’s fly, which shows how sad it is to outlive one’s generation; there is a story of an ungrateful mouse; and a doll that was excessively haughty—in fact, there are stories about everything.... Young people—and even older ones—will read with breathless interest. The book is illustrated with a number of line drawings.”—N. Y. Times.
*“Is worthy to be read and loved by many other children for its originality, its pleasant style, and its gentle lessons with touches of deeper meaning.”
*“The grown-up reader is as pleased as the child—with everything but the pictures.”
Nordenskjöld, Nils Otto Gustav, and Andersson, Dr. Johan Gunnar.Antarctica; or, Two years amongst the ice of the South pole.*$5. Macmillan.
“It will be remembered that the Nordenskjöld expedition, in the vessel Antarctic, left Europe in the summer of 1901, and spent the following Antarctic winter in the South polar regions.... The Antarctic was caught in the ice, ‘nipped’ and sunk, and it took two relief parties to finally rescue Dr. Nordenskjöld and his followers. Notwithstanding the loss of the vessel, with many of the scientific notes, much of the geographical and other scientific results were saved....This volume is Dr. Nordenskjöld’s own story (prepared in collaboration with Dr. Andersson and Captain Larsen, of the Antarctic).”—R. of Rs.
“In the rapidly increasing literature of Polar enterprise Dr. Nordenskjöld’s volume will take a high place. The translator, who has preferred to be anonymous, has performed his task with success.”
“It is mainly as a narrative that the book must be judged, for it contains little of scientific interest.” Albert White Vorse.
“Their story is told in a sufficiently attractive fashion, tho it lacks somewhat of the personal touch that ordinarily vivifies narratives of polar exploration.”
“To the general reader, the book’s main interest will lie in ... its story of romantic adventure. It is as fascinating reading as Robinson Crusoe. Antarctic scenery and natural phenomena are vividly portrayed.”
“The story is vividly told, and the quaint English of the translator rather adds to than detracts from the reader’s enjoyment and interest. The illustration of the work is excellent; the index and maps are all that could be asked.”
“A simple but effective account.”
Norris, H. L.Rice papers; stories and sketches of life in China.†$1.50. Longmans.
In order to while away the leisure hours of a three years’ service in China, the author wrote these nine stories of the Chinese as he saw them, placid and cruel, childlike and shrewd. He has created Hong, the gate-keeper, who spins marvelous yarns to a youthful audience of two, and other characters, which might be real, but are not.
“He has turned out capital stories, witty, satirical, yet seemingly jumping with facts, even though he says the stories are not true. They are better than true; they are well-found. Nine stories ... all good, all worth reading and re-reading.”
“But Mr. Norris as a critic is perhaps too irresponsible to carry much weight. His attitude is primarily that of the amused onlooker, and his aim is plainly to entertain rather than to instruct. In this he is almost uniformly successful.”
Norris, William Edward.Barham of Beltana.†$1.50. Longmans.
Barham of Beltana is a prominent Australian and the love story centers about his son and daughter and the son and daughter of Mr. March, an Englishman. The book is full of complications, obstacles and surprises, into which eccentric old Lady Warden and her secret, two huge mastiffs, and a ghost enter.
“The scenes are pleasantly varied, the situations quietly effective, and the characters consistent though not vital. The story is readable because it runs smoothly from start to finish, and the interest is allowed to accumulate cleverly.”
“The story is not particularly well-written.”
*“There seems almost as little to say against ‘Barham of Beltana’ as in its favour.”
“Is fresh, vigorous, interesting; original in its situations, unusually clever in its dialogue. A thoroughly enjoyable book.”
“This author always writes pleasantly, and entirely in unexceptionable English, but the humor and story-interest which his early books had are here reflected only in a faint and feeble light.”
“Mr. Norris is always readable. The present novel contrives to avoid the sameness from which some of Mr. Norris’s recent books have suffered.”
Norris, William Edward.Embarrassing orphan; il. by Steeple Davis. $1. Winston.
A South American millionaire leaves his daughter to her uncle, Sir Edward Denne, with instruction that she and every one else are to be kept in ignorance of the fact that she is wealthy until she is happily engaged. His object is to save her from fortune hunters, but as it happens, this provision leads her into refusing the right man. All ends well, however, through the efforts of her uncle.
“The story is ingeniously complicated and amusing, though after all somewhat monotonous.”
“There are a few dry passages that detract somewhat from the cleverness of the balance.”
North, Sidney H.Oil fuel; its supply, composition and application.*$1.75. Lippincott.
“A concise and valuable record of the developments in the use of liquid fuel for the generation of power ... he deals with the distribution and sources of supply of petroleum ... the economic aspect of liquid fuel ... the absolute economy as a fuel ... the chemical composition of fuel oils ... conditions of combustion in oil furnaces.... Turning from consideration of the oil itself to the methods of burning it, the author gives a very useful historical summary of the early experiments down to the year 1883.... A chapter is then devoted to modern burners and methods.... [There are chapters upon] the use of oil fuel for marine and naval purposes, [and] oil fuel in locomotives.”—Nature.
“The whole work compares very favorably indeed with the far more pretentious treatise on the subject which until now has been the only book of reference.”
*North, Simon Newton Dexter.“Old Greek,” an old-time professor in an old-fashioned college; a memoir of Edward North, with selections from his lectures.**$3.50. McClure.
“‘Old Greek’ was the nickname, or, more correctly speaking, the pet name, by which Edward North, the professor of Greek [for fifty-eight years] was known to the students and alumni of Hamilton college. This volume, the primary object of which is a biography of Professor North, will certainly serve as an illuminating document to explain the genesis of the old-fashioned college in the United States, and the reasons for its growth and persistence.”—Nation.
Noussanne, Henri de.The kaiser as he is; or, The real William II.; tr. from the French by Walter Littlefield.**$1.25. Putnam.
From the point of view of one “who does not like the Germans and hardly seeks to conceal his contempt for distinctive German qualities,” we have an intimate, graphic, much biased, and at times sarcastic sketch of the German emperor, including domestic, social, political, nationaland international relations. There are chapters dealing with Germany at the accession of William II.; with the manner in which “this young man” rid himself of Bismarck; the imperial treatment of the Poles; William II. and socialism; William II. as a family man, as guest and landlord, at home and on his travels, as head of the army, as bandmaster, painter, patron, etc.
“It is sensational journalism in all its horror. In the less objectionable portions of the book there is a mixture of readable gossip, more or less well founded, with mere padding.”
“The translator has, in general, done his work acceptably, though numerous misprints and mistakes in capitalization are to be noted, and there are many minor errors of statement that might well have been corrected in the English version. The chief objection to the book is, however, the prejudice of the author.”
“Pity it is that M. de Noussanne did not use a finer satirical pen and a less spiteful, even tho he has given evidence as to the healing of the Sedan wound.”
“There is obvious malice, obvious Gallic animus, obvious indulgence of a spirit of levity and mockery, obvious hospitality to anecdotes in which the kaiser is a figure of comic opera. Mr. Littlefield, whose translation is at many points very happy and who has caught the spirit of the whole excellently, regards the more serious parts of the book with perhaps a little too much favor.”
“As a tirade, an example of skilful satire of the boulevard type, it is a masterpiece; as sober biography or character analysis, it is worth nothing.”
“A very witty and keen arraignment of Kaiser William.”
“M. de Noussanne shows us the man behind the monarch, but spares the relation of court tattle and backstairs scandal.”
Noyes, Ella.Story of Ferrara. $2; lea. $2.50. Macmillan.
“The city that was the birthplace of Savonarola, the home of Ariosto, and the refuge of Tasso, will never be wholly forgotten.... The author devotes about two-thirds of her book to the history of the city.... The whole account centres about the ruling family of Este.... In the last third of the book we are given a descriptive view of the city, its palaces, pictures, streets, churches, and abbeys. In forming an idea of what remains of Ferrara’s greatness, the reader is aided by a number of interesting illustrations drawn by Miss Dora Noyes.”—Dial.
“A readable book and a faithful guide to the city’s antiquities, but not a history, in the large sense, admitting us to the council of the fates.” Ferdinand Schwill.
“The work is written in easy, dignified English, the narrative is interesting, and the historian displays good taste and judgment both in her choice and her rejection of materials.”
“So comprehensive is the writer’s grasp of her subject that her little volume might well be called a microcosm of the renaissance. It is hard to do justice to Miss Noyes’s exquisite style and to the penetration which comprehends the significance of the motley manifestations of the vivid, passionate life of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.”
“The style is somewhat spiritless. At best, it will prove an authoritative guide for the student tourist who has much time to spend in Ferrara.” Walter Littlefield.
Noyes, Walter Chadwick.American railroad rates.**$1.50. Little.
The author deals with the subject of freight rates rather than passenger fares, showing how rates are made, and how they should be made, examines the questions of classification and discrimination, considers the effect of free competition on the one hand and consolidation on the other, shows the movement of rates for the last forty years, and compares American rates with those of foreign countries.