NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 9

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The Story of India." By John Thorn- - ton, late of the C.H.S., South India. London: Henry. J. Drane.

Ih-sre ore many vayi of writing history, and every way i.s a good one if it lias a definite, useful purpose, and achieves that purpose. The present volume has an.aim that is as praiseworthy as it is modest. Mr. Thornton, who is well known as the Headmaster of To Aute, College, has inado no attempt to break new ground, t0 ) n .- m „ ]j K ] lt nmv facts, or to bring new light to bear on old facts. He aims simply, as ho savs, "to provide a readable account of the. most notable events in the history of India, especially of that' portion of it in which we, as Englishmen, are naturally more interested." We cannot think of any bettor popular ■ account of the important events in tba history of the great dependency that is really the , keystone of the Imperial arch. Every week- India looms up larger in the debates in the Houso of Commons, but to the overage citizen of the Empire it is still a dull topic, tho importance.of it being quite unrecognised by Mm. But its importance: will force itself upon the attention of all the Empire's citizens before very long, and it 13 a useful scrvico to provide ■? rendnble but accurate outline of the history of Britain's acquisition .of this mighty territory. Mr. Thornton has succeeded excellently in his design, and everyone who reads his useful volume will close it with a clear idea of the great end absorbing achievement of Britain in adding India toiler possessions. Tho history is carried up to the conclusion of the second. Afghan War, and although nmen Indian history has been made since then, and history of the highest moment, especially during the past ten years, Mr. Thornton's book cavers ftll the ground that can bo safely covered by a writer anxious at once to keep clear of polemic and to interest tho public in a most important field of Imperial development.