A series of pictures—the Planters, the Turf-cutters, the Mowers, the Haymakers, the Reapers, the Diggers, &c.—forming an almost complete view of life among the rural classes in Co. Cavan. These pictures are the setting for country idylls, humorous, pathetic, or tragic. In all there is the actuality, the minute fidelity that can be attained only by one who has lived the life he describes and has the closest personal sympathy with the people. The descriptions of natural scenes, the weather, &c., are admirable. ⸺ THE SQUIREEN. Pp. 288. (_Methuen_). 1_s._ Cloth, full-sized. (N.Y.: _McClure_). 1.50. 1903. A study of Ulster marriage customs. Jane Fallon is practically sold to the Squireen by her family, and, after long resistance, yields, and marries him. Tragic consequences follow. Most of the characters are Ulster Protestant peasants. “The Squireen” is a study of the old type of fox-hunting gentleman-farmer. ⸺ THE RED LEAGUERS. Pp. 315. (_Methuen_). 6_s._ (N.Y.: _Pratt_). 0.75. 1904. Scenes from an imaginary rebellion in Ireland, purporting to be related by a Protestant who has sided with the rebels and captains the men of Armoy, a barony a little to the north of the Woodford River (the Thrasna of the story), which enters Lough Erne about two miles to the west of where the River Erne flows into the same. England having left Ireland almost without a garrison, the Protestants are all (except in a few places) killed or taken, the Irish Republic triumphs. Then the country gives itself up to an orgy of thoughtless rejoicing and more or less drunken revelling. In “a handful of weeks” the “land is hungry, wasted, lawless, disorganized, an Ireland gone to wrack.” The story closes with the news of English troops landing in Cork and Derry and Dublin. The author does not write simply from the standpoint of the dominant class, much less is he merely anti-Catholic and anti-Irish. He merely lacks faith in the wisdom and staying power of Irish character. He tries to show the actualities of the rebellion in their naked realism, eschewing all romance. He succeeds in being strangely vivid and realistic without apparent effort. Of the leaders on the Irish side one is a coward and a swaggerer, another is bloodthirsty, all are selfish and vulgar. The heroes are in the opposite camp. N.B.—The scene of this story is also the scene of the Author’s other North of Ireland studies and sketches. ⸺ THE CUBS. Pp. 349. (_Werner Laurie_). 6_s._ 1906. A story of life in an Irish school, recognized by old schoolfellows of the Author as bearing a strong resemblance to the Author’s old school of Farra, near Mullingar. It is naturally thought to be partly autobiographical. It is the history of a great friendship. It includes also some scenes of home life.