Hisrory oF
(Batsford. £2 2s.)
It is a pleasure to welcome the sixth edition of Sir Banistei Fletcher's work, "A History _of Architecture on the Comparative Method," famous for a quarter of a century as the standard textbook on the subject. Not a mere repetition of the earlier work, however, but a virtuallly new production, is this fascinating volume, as a comparison with the old edition will clearly show—the text re-written, the whole matter enlarged and substantially recast, and the volume stouter than its predecessor—the plates of drawings 275 in all—having been expanded and improved in them presentment, while a similar change is reflected in the 305 photographic subjects.
Its system of analysis, though adequate for the labours of the scholar, is well. adapted for ready memorizing by the learner; the book appeals alike to the student at the art school, the traveller, and the amateur in his arm-chair. The beginner, again, will welcome it for its graphic presentment of essentials, absent in some books of the, kind:
For very good purpose was this "History" divided into clear-cut and yet mutually-dependent headings under each style—its "Influences," showing first of alli the razson d'etre of the style in its physical and psychical setting its "Character," a shrewd sum: ming up of its essential qualities; its "List of Examples," each designed to begin a paragraph that, a given building may be more easily found perhaps most important of all, its careful "Analysis" of different features, helpful to those who desire to apply constructively their gleanings from the inventive genius, of their predecessors; and lastly, collected under each style, its list of books thereon. Mention must be-made of the glossary, with its concise, vivid definitions, and the complete.and satisfying index, which greatly increases the usefulness of the volume.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.