FOR THE LIBRARY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 17

FOR THE LIBRARY

ESSAYS AND LETTERS

In "Votive Tablets," which has been receatly published by CobdenSanderson,' .- Edmund Blundon, ; who stands _ apart from most contemporary writers of prose and verse in hia ability to submit hia mind freely to the appeal of the literature of yesterday, begins to'collect the best of his critical appreciations. These have not been limited to, the study of poetry, though Mr. Blunden's habit of prose reading may be denned fairly well in hiß regard for Lamb, Leigh Hunt, Addison, and so on—essayists; and for Boswell, Haydon, Gibbon—painters of periods, recorders of expeiience. These "Votivo Tablets" arc arranged so as to form a partial reflection of the literary history of England, and, apart from the opinions and the stylo in which they are conveyed, abound in uncommon information concerning writers and their, books.

V,-, The ."Letters ,of Charles Dickens to fhei Baron,ess , Burdett-Coutts" were written.; by., Charles Diekeiis,, to the Baroness rßuidett-Coutts : -. ; during ■, the years when, he acted as.her-ibounsellor and sometimes as almoner in her countless .acts' : iof 'benevolence. >-;His share in drawing up the/scheme for a rescue home and writing "the letter which, was to be given to each of the inmates. ■■'' explaining ;its •' aim.: and ■ the. wide-hearted sympathy of its practice, is'already known1 in •great part; but these letters come to the public as a fresh revelation of his warmifeelings,. his practical -skill, and the personal charm which > irradiated his; friendship with, the Baroness. Copies of the brigirials, :'Bihc'e sold to America, .were taken by the Baroness Burdett-Contts's secretary'with a view- to'a full memoir which was not 'completed. :< The present publication- has. ■ ■ teen edited ■by Charles:' C. Osborne and contains a biographical introduction, the publishers being John Murray. • -

, Everything worth knowing about1 Ro"beri Burns' is. to be -found in' "A Burns Handbook," edited by Dri J. D. Boss (Mackay). Dr. Ross 'is-not only ?a Burns enthusiast 'but is a discriminating ,britic of all matters pertaining; to the poet's life and work. In this, his latest contribution to the literature dealing with. Burns), he has ■ condensed ma Very convenient form1 all the authentic information obtainable.