An Unknown Country.-" The recent death of Mrs. Craik," says the Christian Union, "adds another element of interest to the latest book from her hand, An Unknown Country.' The five chapters which make up this volume describe a journey through a country which, although within twenty-four hours of London and twelve hours of Dublin, has remained singularly isolated; a country whose desolation is not without a certain appealing beauty of its own. Mrs. Craik explored the North of Ireland from Antrim and Cushendall to the Giant's Causeway, to Londonderry, to Gweedore, and to Carrick. The novelist seems to have been even more interested in the people than in the landscape, and her narrative is full of glimpses of these out-of-the-way folk who have in herited the Irish wit and the Irish misery. This volume is handsomely printed in small quarto form, and very effectively illustrated by Frederick Noel Paton."

on

(Harper. $2.50.)

Abbeys and Churches of England and Wales.Uniform with the volume published last season "Cathedral Churches of England and Wales," Messrs. Cassell & Co. this year have a companion volume, in which the Rev. T. G. Bonney shows us some of the " Abbeys and Churches of the same great land. The abbeys were monasteries governed by abbots, and always included a church of extensive proportions. Most of these beautiful edifices were built when church and state were one in deed, as they are now in name, and many of these grand old buildings were erected under the supervision of tyrannical potentates, who meant their names to be forever associated with the magnificent piles of stone they reared in the

AT GARRON POINT.

From "An Unknown Country." (Harper & Bros.) name of religion. These churches of England are among the most celebrated architectural structures of the world. Many of them are full of historical interest and almost all are works of art judged from the standpoint of a religious enthusiast, a scholarly thinker, a learned historian, or an earnest student of human nature. Long histories of human greatness, human success and failure, of the rights and of the wrongs of men, are builded into these solid old gray walls. The descriptions of these abbeys and churches are written for the present volume by men who stand high in the church and state to-day, and their scholarly work has been put together and edited by the Rev. T. G. Bonney, and illustrated with numerous wood-engravings from original drawings by well-known English artists. The book, which makes a goodly volume, can be had bound in cloth or in full morocco, and would make a most appropriate gift for some friend who has travelled through England and taken the intense pleasure in the fine old churches which so many have felt, but which is so hard to make clear to

those who have not been fortunate enough to see these grand landmarks in the history of civilization. (Cassell. $5; full mor., $10.)

Memorials of Westminster Abbey. -The late world-regretted Dean Stanley first published these Memorials in 1867. A work on such a subject, written by one of the most accomplished and liberal theologians of the age, who, with his solid acquirements and sympathetic, generous piety, combined literary talent that was almost genius, was a revelation to the thinking, reading world. He became Dean of Westminster Abbey in 1864, and after that much was done to restore and improve the interior, but done under the direction of a scholarly historian, who understood all the associations of England's great national mausoleum, and whose sole aim was to preserve for future generations the lessons to be learned from those historic monuments and tablets. At first the burial-place of England's kings, it has now become a national honor to be buried among its tombs and monuments. Men who have ruled the world through literature, art, science, invention, discovery, statesmanship, now lie buried side by side with England's hereditary sovereigns, and few places in the world speak so solemn a lesson of the greatness and littleness of humanity. The

history of the memorial tablets which crowd the great edifice, which Dean Stanley wrote twenty years ago, is not yet as well known as it ought to be. A. D. F. Randolph & Co. have brought it out as their leading publication this year. They have put it into three volumes, which makes it more convenient for reference than the ponderous one-volume English edition, but the author's arrangement will be strictly followed. In addition to the illustrations in the English edition each of these volumes will contain a frontispiece etching. The mechanical execution of the work will show the exquisite neatness for which the firm is distinguished. Composition, presswork, and paper are all the best of their kind. The edition is a large-paper one, limited to six hundred copies, all numbered and registered when sold. The work can be had in cloth binding or in full calf or morocco, and is in every style suitable to make a most valuable addition to the library shelves of a specially dear literary friend. The Shrine of Edward the Confessor, shown in our cut, was erected by Henry III., when he rebuilt a great part of the abbey church in the style denominated early English. That shrine, somewhat mutilated, still remains behind the high altar in the Lady Chapel at the East End. (Randolph. 3 v., $7.50; $12, $18.)

A Summer Voyage.-Philip Gilbert Hamerton and Joseph Pennell were companions last summer in a delightful trip made on the Sâone as far as that river is navigable. Hiring a canal-boat, which they fitted up to suit themselves, both with comforts and luxuries, they travelled leisurely through some of the most picturesque spots of France. The record of this voyage was kept by Mr. Hamerton in a series of chatty, clever letters, which he has gathered together under the title "The Sâone: a Summer Voyage." This volume is offered among the choicest gift-books of the season. It has not only an artistic quality which sets it apart from other books, but a literary interest that is unique. Mr. Hamerton, in his character of art-critic, has filled his letters with many suggestions that are valuable and instructive; besides this, he tells with much humor of the little perplexing and amusing incidents of their every-day life. Mr. Joseph Pennell and the author were equally industrious in the matter of sketching. Nearly one hundred and fifty illustrations of scenery, views of churches, bridges, ruins, little interior studies, etc., are scattered through the text, proving the cleverness and versatility of the two artists. Maps, fine paper, good print and a pretty binding are additional useful and æsthetic qualities of a charming book. (Roberts. $5.)

Pictures from Holland.-The many books published on Holland in the few years past are evidence of an awaking interest in that delightful country in the minds of habitual travellers. The new volume of the favorite Pen and Pencil Series deals this year with this quiet but picturesque corner of Europe. "Pictures from Holland" it is entitled, and it is from the pen of Richard Lovett. It is unusually interesting in reading-matter and in illustrations. These are excellent specimens of wood-engraving. Buildings, sea, land, and street views, costumes, figure groups, in full page, vignette, and text pictures, have been culled from many sources to interpret the text. which has been written, the author says, "to indicate how much the men of Holland have done to benefit the world in the great departments of architecture, art, political and municipal life, and, above all, in the battle of freedom of thought and worship in religion." (Nelson. $3.50.)

Hopkinson Smith's Well-Worn Roads.-The bright and graphic descriptive chapters on Spain, Holland, and Italy, Mr. Smith's striking holiday volume published last year, are now reprinted, with some changes and additions, in a tasteful little volume. At the head of each chapter is a small illustration reduced from the holiday book. (Houghton, M. & Co. $1.25.)

The Knickerbocker Nuggets.-It is under this name that a little series of dainty volumes is now being published. The design of the series is to embrace not only what is best in literature --the world's classics, in fact-but to offer specimens of artistic typography that will delight the eye and heart of the book-lover. The little volumes are the work of the Knickerbocker Press, and are marvels of good taste and mechanical execution. The small page is in beautiful type, is well spaced, and has a good margin. The paper is fine and of a delicate tint, and shows the cunning miniature illustrations, of which we give a specimen, to good advantage. The dainty light and dark blue binding, with its delicate design in gold, is very pleasing, serving to enhance the rare literary treat that may be found within. So far seven volumes of the series have been issued. Nos. I and 2." Select Tales from the Gesta Romanorum

"

and "Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey," by Thomas Love Peacock, are the most novel of the issues, and books that have been difficult to obtain in this country for some years. The "Gesta Romanorum," is one of the oldest collections of mediæval pious legends written for the edification of the monks. The simplicity and quaintness, and a charming directness delightfully free from modern metaphysics, with their childlike obvious moral in the style of old Æsop, make the stories most delightful reading. They are wise and witty, too, and have been freed from the license of thought and speech that mars so many of the old chronicles. Thomas Love Peacock's romances have long been out of print. The author was an Englishman and a friend of Lamb and Shelley, and was quite famous in his day. "Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey" will

be found quite well worth preserving among even the best literature. The other issues are

Gulliver's Travels," a reprint of the early edition (2 v.); "Tales from Irving," first and second series (2 v.); "The Book of British Ballads," edited by S. C. Hall; and "The Travels of Baron Münchausen," reprinted from the early complete edition. (Putnam. Ea. $1 or $1.25.) In similar garb there is a new edition of the select works of Irving, furnished in box or on a pretty book-shelf, with bust of Irving by Rogers. ($12 and $16.)

In His Name.-Mr. Hale's beautiful story," In been called his best story. It deals with the His Name," was first published in 1874, and has Waldenses, reads like a troubadour song, as the late Mrs. Jackson said, and fully deserves the holiday dress in which it is now brought out by Roberts Brothers. It contains nearly a hundred and fifty illustrations drawn by G. P. Jacombwho understand integrity, purity, and good sense; Hood, R.A. The book will delight all readers it is historically accurate; it is a jewel, both as a work of art and in ethics; and it is good holiday reading. (Roberts. $2.)

Collection of Thackeray Letters.-The publication, in Scribner's Magazine, of this collection of letters, written by the author of "The Newcomes to his intimate friends, the Brookfields, has attracted more attention in the literary world than any event for many years. For the letters are unique in interest and of the highest importance for the light they throw upon Thackeray's character, bringing the world at large to a more intimate knowledge of the man, and increasing the affection in which his memory is held by the

readers of his books. Full of wit and humor, quaint and whimsical as the fancy seized the writer, and brightened by numerous inimitable pen-andink drawings, these letters, some of which are given in fac-simile, are indeed a "literary treasure." It is impossible to give a complete idea of the charm of these letters, of the wide range which they take, and of how the man stands revealed in every line. Bubbling humor, delightful personal gossip, impressions of people and places, and words of kindness for all are seen in them; but beneath all this there is an undercurrent of philosophy, not harsh nor grating, but sweet and tender, and a complete revelation of the writer's inner nature. They cannot but delight every lover of Thackeray, while above and beyond this, they form one of the sweetest as well as one of the most notable contributions to modern English literature. (Scribner. $2.50.)

Cabot's Life of Emerson.-" Mr. Emerson was, we think, well advised," says the London Athenæum, "in appointing Mr. Cabot his literary executor, and Mr. Emerson's family have been wise in intrusting this gentlemen with the task of writing what must plainly be the definitive memoir of the American teacher. The tale is told with simplicity and good taste, with full appreciation of its subject, but without extravagant eulogy. Where more than mere narrative is required, more is forthcoming; and the occasional expositions of Emerson's views, and of their relation to the society around him, plainly proceed from a man who has himself observed, himself felt, the special forms of mental and spiritual awakening and aspiration to which the message of the sage of Concord came with acceptability and power. There is nothing in these two volumes inconsistent with the simple, pure conception of Emerson which his own writings suggest. The tranquil story of his life has been told without exaggeration and without deficiency, due honor has been paid to the American worthy, and we look to his great country to produce others as good as he." This memoir of Mr. Emerson will make a most acceptable addition to the library of some known admirer of this great advocate of freedom, purity, and reform. It goes without saying that the books are printed and bound just as they ought to be. (Houghton, M. & Co. 2 v., $3.50.)

Famous Women Series.-This interesting biographical series goes on adding volume after volume to the collection begun so modestly several years ago. From its inception the motive of the series found popular favor. And as one charming biography after another, from the pens of some of our most gifted women writers, claimed attention and awakened a delighted appreciation, the series obtained a permanent place in homes and public libraries, side by side with the best literature. Amid the bewildering art and gift books of the season, the publishers call attention to it, as a delightful line of books that might find in many cases as ready acceptance as more showy works. Certainly no one with a refined literary taste could be other than happy in having so much charming reading matter made their very own. Subjects and authors are in the main English, but several famous American women have had their trials and triumphs recorded by other famous American women. The titles of the books which we enumerate suggest the rich literary feast within the covers. The earlier volumes were 'George Eliot," by Miss Blind;

44

Emily Brontë," by Miss Robinson; "George Sand," by Miss Thomas; 'Mary Lamb," by Mrs. Gilchrist; "Margaret Fuller," by Julia Ward Howe; "Maria Edgeworth," by Miss Zimmern; Elizabeth Fry," by Mrs. E. R. Pitman; The Countess of Albany," by Vernon Lee; Mary Wollstonecraft," by Mrs. E. R. Pennell; Harriet Martineau," by Mrs. F. Fenwick Miller; "Rachel," by Mrs. Nina H. Kennard; "Madame Roland," by Mathilde Blind; and "Susanna Wesley," by Eliza Clarke. The most recent and most interesting issue of this year is Bella Duffy's "Madame de Staël." Of this volume the N. Y. Telegram says, in the course of an appreciative review: "A woman who lived in the stormiest period in the history of France, whose career was like a meteor during the bloody scenes of the Revolution and

who was a prominent figure when the new empire was set up on the ruins of the old monarchy, Madame de Staël's life reads like a stirring romance. In one of a series of small volumes containing biographies of famous women, which is being issued by Roberts Brothers, Boston, Bella Duffy gives many interesting reminiscences in the life of this child of genius and of the bizarre surroundings which made her career one of the most extraordinary of any of the famous people of that generation. Of Madame de Staël's vicissitudes during the carnival of blood following the taking of the Bastile, her second marriage, and her exile when Bonaparte ascended the throne, the biographer speaks in an incidental